Is ‘Am I Racist?’ Star Matt Walsh the New Borat?

Sacha Baron Cohen caught the culture napping with 2006’s “Borat.”

The quasi-improv comedy let Cohen’s Kazakhstan character tweak cultural biases. The film became that year’s surprise hit – $128 million at the U.S. box office.

The British actor had previously made us howl with his “Da Ali G Show,” which aired stateside on HBO. His Borat character was new to most Americans, allowing him to invade small town USA sans detection.

Matt Walsh may be the most unlikely heir to Cohen’s throne.

The Daily Wire podcaster’s upcoming film, “Am I Racist?” finds Walsh going undercover to expose DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs.

Walsh is playing a character through parts of director Justin Folk’s film, out Sept. 13. He’s a self-loathing white man exploring his inner racist. All he needed was a man bun and a sense of how an “anti-racist” expert to dupe fellow travelers.

Cohen and Walsh have little in common, on the surface.

Cohen is a professional comedian with an impressive body of work in films like “Sweeney Todd,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” and “Bruno.” Walsh’s stoic nature couldn’t be more different than what Cohen brings to the screen.

And, of course, Walsh isn’t a comedian by trade (even if he played a small role in The Daily Wire’s “Lady Ballers”).

Cohen has the full support of the press and Hollywood. His “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” even snared a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination despite its lackluster quality.

Journalists will either ignore “Am I Racist?” or attack Walsh through any means available.

Polar opposites, right? Look closer.

Both maintain their cool when the sources of their ridicule revolt. Cohen and Walsh also have a larger purpose behind the “Candid Camera” theatrics.

Cohen wants to expose the bigotry within western civilization through a progressive lens. That mindset evolved for his 2020 “Borat” sequel. The film let him weaponize his iconic character to dethrone President Donald Trump.

Walsh’s ideological goal? Showcase the racism lurking within the woke movement.

It’s the finished product that ultimately matters.

Cohen’s “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” found Cohen caring more about partisan talking points than laughs.

The actor’s far-Left sensibilities found him attacking free speech in recent years. He raged against Facebook for not banning Donald Trump on the platform sooner.

Sacha Baron Cohen Calls on Facebook, Twitter, and More to ‘Finally’ Ban Trump for ‘Inciting a Violent Attack’ https://t.co/2ZBJFrO1be pic.twitter.com/Ugtxor3L2b

— James Burton (@RadicalCampfire) January 6, 2021

Few have seen “Am I Racist?” beyond The Daily Wire’s inner circle. The film debuts in theaters next month, but early snippets suggest the film will be as subversive as “What Is a Woman?” That Walsh/Folk collaboration hinted at the “Borat”-style shtick on full display with “Racist.”

Who knows what progressive targets Walsh might hit next.

Except he could have a Borat-sized problem moving forward. He’s becoming recognizable beyond The Daily Wire universe.

Something similar happened to Cohen.

By the time he started shooting “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm” the public could spot his goofy character a mile way. That undercut his improv shtick.

Any future Borat projects will be tightly scripted, losing part of the character’s charm.

If “Am I Racist?” breaks out beyond the conservative landscape Walsh will need more than a man bun to dupe strangers. His signature beard and calm demeanor might warn strangers they’re about to be exposed.