Let’s stipulate two non-controversial facts (yes, facts) about Sacha Baron Cohen’s cinematic output before we begin:

1. Borat is one of the funniest movies of all time.
2. Bruno is not one of the funniest movies of all time.

Are we agreed? No? Well, go force-feed your human coffee table a Twinkie and come back when you see it our way. Good?

So now we’ve been presented with the first scene from The Dictator. If you’re inclined to be worried this one’s going to slide more toward the Bruno-on-Jerry-Springer side of the quality continuum than the face-buried-in-Ken-Davitian’s-anal-column side, this brief set-up clip probably isn’t going to provide enough evidence to calm your fears. But if you’re all-in on Cohen (we’re all-in on Cohen, as a general rule), there’s sufficient reason to get (cautiously) excited. Then again, maybe we’re just suckers for babies in merkins and track-and-field handgun violence. So shoot us. (With a starter pistol.) (In our merkin area.)