The biggest problem with Baron Cohen’s newest film, The Dictator, is that it forgoes the mockumentary format in exchange for something that technically resembles a plot. Baron Cohen stars as Admiral General Aladeen, the over-the-top dictator of a fictitious North African country called Wadiya. After taking some time to show Aladeen’s particular brand of tyranny in Wadiya, the story moves Aladeen to Manhattan, where Aladeen plans to address the U.N. Tired of Aladeen’s reign, his second-in-command, Tamir (Ben Kingsley), sets in motion a plan to assassinate Aladeen and bring democracy to Wadiya. When the assassination attempt fails (leaving him beardless in the process), he’s left to wander around Manhattan, where he encounters Zoey (Anna Faris), a stereotypical ultra-eco-friendly feminist.

In short: it’s a fairly conventional plot with an unconventional sense of humor, the latter being quintessential to anything by Baron Cohen.

My biggest problem when it comes to this film is whether or not to recommend it. As far as the construction of a plot goes, The Dictator falls flat. It’s threadbare, and essentially serves to move the film over its 85-minute running time with as many jokes crammed in as possible. While there are certainly worse constructs for a film, the traditional form used here shows just how well Baron Cohen’s previous films worked because of their format.

As a comedy, I can’t deny that the movie is hilarious, even though it’s so offensive at times, “offensive” doesn’t quite convey the tone. Obscene, vulgar, crude, vile, and disgusting also don’t quite cover it. Fair warning: if you’re easily offended, you have no business reading this review, let alone actually watching The Dictator. Also worth noting: one source of humor that was consistently jarring to me, as well as to the audience I sat in, involved repeated rape humor. If nothing else, consider yourself warned.

Basically, a film like this comes down to the humor more often than not. If you’re a fan of Baron Cohen’s work in Borat and Brüno, you’ll likely laugh at this film as well. Ignore the plot. You’ll be better off for it.

Rating: B-

What to Expect When You’re Expecting falls in-between these two, though it leans a bit more towards the latter in terms of watchability. “Based” on the best-selling pregnancy book (in that it shares a name with the book, nothing more), the film follows five couples going through pregnancy.

I’ll be honest: the stories themselves are all weak. While not necessarily as messy as larger ensemble comedies, the film does suffer from splitting its time more or less equally amongst the couples. Fortunately, the times aren’t completely equal, which gives some stories a tad more prominence.

Of the five pregnant women, the one who makes the biggest impression (and gets a touch more screentime than the rest) is Wendy, played with full dedication by Elizabeth Banks. Banks has never really been shy about going all-out for comedy, and she does that here, which lets her character stand out from more restrained performances from the other leading women. It helps that her storyline also features some of the more notable supporting cast members, including Dennis Quaid and Rebel Wilson.

Another reason to see the film at some point, at least for Atlanta residents, is to play a fun little game of “Where Was This Filmed?” Atlanta’s become a hotbed for filming in recent years, and What to Expect… goes all over the city. In some ways, the film works as a promotion for Atlanta tourism, including gratuitous mentions of the Georgia Aquarium, Delta Airlines, and a rather creative insertion of Piedmont Park’s Screen on the Green that the series’ promoters might not be thrilled about.

If you’re a fan of films like Valentine’s Day or He’s Just Not That Into You, chances are that you’ll enjoy this film, too. There’s nothing particularly distinctive about the film, but it works as a harmless Sunday afternoon diversion.

Rating: C+

When you’re expected to write a new article each week, the articles aren’t always going to be an insightful examination of gay culture; sometimes you just want to write a fun and/or sarcastic article. Apparently, though, some people think that if you poke fun at the gay community, you’re disparaging the gay community. You would really have to lack any form of humor to take a majority of what I say seriously.

The most obnoxious accusations I receive are that I’m racist, sexist, or, most ridiculously of all, homophobic. It’s to be presumed that the people who make these assertions haven’t bothered to read any of my previous work about how, as members of a minority group, we especially should be receptive of other minorities, especially other homosexuals. Instead, they focus on me talking about getting day drunk and slutting it up. The fact of the matter is that I’m not inherently biased against anyone based on any artificial or superficial reasoning. Having said that, I find it ironic that the same people who charge me with doing so are the very people who have done that exact thing to me. You read articles I write in a magazine—it doesn’t mean you know me as a person.

The overwhelming go-to insult for these people is to insult my intelligence. I’m not going to sit and tout my educational credentials because, frankly, that’s a cursory defense, as we all know formal education doesn’t actually determine intelligence, and intelligence and education are subjective philosophies anyway. Just because I can debate the merits of Britney Spears versus Lady Gaga or perform the choreography to “Spice Up Your Life,” however, doesn’t mean I couldn’t tell you who Mary Schapiro is or quote the works of Søren Kierkegaard. That’s not called being intelligent, it’s called being well-rounded and informed. But really, there’s no reason to immediately and insincerely write someone else off as vapid unless you’re insecure with your own perceived intelligence. It actually just makes you look stupid to everyone else.

David Atlanta is a multi-faceted publication, just as the gay community itself is heterogeneous. We as gay people, let alone human beings, cannot be serious all the time, so for the love of gay baby Jesus, lighten the fuck up, people.

Rufus Wainwright told The Village Voice about the time he met Bea Arthur, saying he approached her at a party and told her, “I’m sorry to bother you, and I’m sure you hear this all the time, but I was going through a rough patch and Golden Girls brought me so much entertainment and comfort. It really helped me get through the bad spell. You’re so wonderful. You made me feel like you’re my grandmother.” Bea then leaned in and said to him, “I’m not your fucking grandmother,” thereby unknowingly delivering the most epic verbal smackdown in history.

Lindsay Lohan and Woody Allen were spotted leaving a restaurant in NYC together. This pairing makes less sense than Pat Robertson’s logic.

Matthew Fox (that one guy from Lost) was pulled over and charged with DUI in Bend, Oregon, where he lives with his family. So far, no mugshot has been released because the camera at the jailhouse was apparently broken, though he will be expected to return to the police station to have a formal mugshot taken, which completely ruins the allure of celebrity mugshots. They’re no fun when the celeb gets to go home and primp beforehand! We want to see them in all their hot mess glory: grimy hair, glassy eyes, dazed stare, and decked in a prison jumpsuit.

Someone should really point out what a sound investment a chauffeur would be to Amanda Bynes. After driving away after being stopped by police, getting a DUI, and being photographed backing over a curb, all within the past few weeks, she now stands accused of sideswiping another car. She apparently didn’t even realize she’d done it, and the guy she hit had to follow her while talking to the cops until they finally caught up to her. She wasn’t drunk during the incident, which leads me to believe she must just be really, really dumb.

Rihanna apparently upset SNL producers when she called in sick to the final dress rehearsal prior to her performances on the live show. The producers should have known to hold the rehearsals at an In-N-Out Burger and her stoner ass gladly would have shown up.

The Octomom is doing solo porn to support her 14 chirrens. Okay, who would pay to see the vagina of a woman that popped out 14 kids? That is some scary, morbid shit.

Ok, how about they really got into the spirit and had a big ass mechanical bull out in the parking lot for Cinco! I mean, I’ve rode on plenty of things before like horses…and yeah, like horses, but never a damn bull! I came in thinking it was going to be another fun gig at the Cow Tip until the scary part came when they INSITED that I get my ass on that bull to “demonstrate how FUN it is for the customers”. There I was wearing my blonde afro, daisy duke shorts (more like Bo Duke), cowboy boots, Hooters-ish t-shirt and my signature glitter all over my face as I straddled myself on top of this ferocious looking bull, “You have to keep your legs up and don’t let them down”, the bull operator person said as I thought to myself “I’ve heard THAT before”.

Oh, I forgot to mention, as soon as I got on, the horns fell off and all I can see was the duct-tape at the end of them. I’m familiar with the security of duct-tape, but not on HORNS! That’s when he then informed me “Oh yeah, don’t hold on to the head” (un huh), so there I was wishing I went to Las Margaritas as I realized the only thing I had to hold on to was that small ass piece of rope! I’m like WTF?!

He started me off in real slow motion, he must have had the dial on one I thought. Then bitch…he went a little faster, and I was like, with a smile on my face for the customers, “Ok that’s enough, this is fun guys”. Apparently to him it meant SPEED IT UP. At this point I wish the bull was real just so I could run over him because the more I YELLED “OKAAAAAAY, THAT’S ENOUGH!!!!”, the faster he went!

They were laughing, and I was praying…but can I tell you my legs never went down! Even though they had a safety landing waiting on you with the blow up giant air mattress ground underneath to fall onto, it still didn’t seem like it would be a pleasant landing with my glitter going everywhere.

Well, to my surprise, I didn’t fall off…but let me tell you, the next couple of days, my inner thighs were super sore! I don’t think I will EVER forget this damn Cinco, but it turned out to be a lotta fun (though sore as hell). Love you Cowtippers, and yeah, that was some bull!

UNTIL next week, DON’T read the girls, instead read The Brent Star Report!

And, in the midst of a heated custody battle with her ex, she dished on both during our recent interview: what to expect from the new music (songs about her split, of course), tentatively due in September; how, despite her breakup, “it’s not as heartbroken” as past albums; and, of course, getting underwear-bombed onstage.

How’s life treating you these days?

It’s pretty incredible. Very full and very fun. There’s always a new adventure around the corner. I have four kids and I’m very happy.

What’s it like raising teens?

My kids are 13 and 15, and I have two 5-year-olds; surprisingly, it’s very similar. (Laughs) They require all of your attention and they don’t remember anything you’ve told them.

What’s inspiring this upcoming album?

Life has always inspired whatever I’m singing about, so events in my life in the last couple of years: new love, saying goodbye to an old love, and my kids and my hopes and my dealings of life are all there.

So Lucky meets Skin?

(Laughs) That’s funny, but no actually. Better than that. I was pretty down and out during Skin – that was hard! I’m in a much better place and I feel much better, so I think it’s more up. It’s hard for me to tell when I’m just starting, when I’m just making it, but I feel like it’s not as heartbroken as Skin was. We’re never going back there.

But some fans miss sad Melissa.

I know! Some people say Skin is their favorite and I’m like, “Aww, I’m sorry.” (Laughs)

On your last album, Fearless Love, you started writing from other people’s perspective. Will there be more of that on the upcoming album?

I found that I’m writing from another point of view as if it were my own. They’re memories, like, “What if I was still there, what would this be like?” I’ve written a couple of those.

It’s been a couple of years since you and Tammy Lynn Michaels split, though it’s still making headlines. What’s been the hardest part about going through a public breakup?

That it was public. (Laughs) Some private pains and anger and heartache gets out there and no one understands, nobody except who is in the relationship knows what’s going on, and there’s always two sides to everything. I don’t ever like to do anything public; whereas she might take things public, I keep very quiet about it, so that’s hard. You can’t win that, ever.

People naturally make assumptions and start rumors. Is it better not to say anything or clear the air?

You know, I wish it was possible to just go on and say, “Hey, this is my truth, this is it,” but it never stops. When you engage in that then you’re in it and it gets all mucky and you can’t win. You can’t change what people think. Some people are just out there assuming away and I can’t change that. So I accept it. It’ll all be in the past soon.

Except you’ll be reliving it on this album.

(Laughs) Yes, that’s the thing. And that I can control. I can control my art, and I can control what I say and how I say it.

How did you get started in design?

Well I studied Fashion and Fashion Merchandising up north in New York City. So I have always been in some sort of design. I’ve always been creative, business-savvy, and an entrepreneur. I started a non-profit when I was 20 years old but then again I had a vision and plan for what I wanted to come. I always knew I would start some sort of clothing line but did not know when. Ironically, leaving the Capital of Fashion in NYC and moving to Atlanta is what brought my opportunity to really move into fashion design. Here in Atlanta I had the time and extra cash to act on my vision, and really put my design and fashion skills to use.

How did HCSwimwear get started?

HCSwimwear actually was a branch off of my online blogazine called HomoCouture.com. It’s a non-profit that provides the LGBT community with an online lifestyle and fashion guide. So when I moved here to Atlanta, I met a seamstress named Chiraza Knight of Chaza Fashions. I had always wanted to start my own clothing line but didn’t know where to start. After meeting with her I knew that my dreams would be now going into full speed. So it all started with a vision I had. And that’s how I started HCSwimwear – HomoCouture Swimwear.

What makes your swimsuit designs stand out?

While starting this collection, I noticed that other designers all used the same neutral and typical swimsuit colors. I wanted to expand the color palette; my collection features very vibrant and bold colors. Also the quality of my pieces is what will stand out. The saying “you get what you pay for” isn’t always true. I use the best spandex and nylon blend and lining so that you can feel just as good as you look, but for a very inexpensive price. My pieces are handmade here in Atlanta. They won’t color fade or fall apart after one wear, and that’s what completely separates my swimwear from others.

Who or what are your inspirations?

My inspiration behind this collection was a combination of things. When I use to go swimsuit shopping, every swimsuit brand had the same designs and typical colors. When I shop I look for pieces that are unique and that match my personality. So finding really cute swimwear that was of great quality was so hard to find. Another inspiration was: I’m tired of going to the beach, summer prides, and pool parties and witnessing guys play around in cotton underwear.

What’s your most popular item?

My most popular item right now seems to be the Body Trunk. It comes in a combination of 4 sets of colors and 2 back styles. A lot of guys like it because it’s a sexier take on a wrestling singlet. Only my body trunk is cut lower and exposes more of the body. It’s super sexy on, unique in design and feels great on the skin.

Where are HCSwimwear products available?

The HCS Collection is available on my website at www.hcswimwear.com and now exclusively in-store here in Atlanta at Brushstrokes on Piedmont Road. Hopefully by my next collection we will be in-stores in other cities.

For more information on HCSwimwear visit www.hcswimwear.com, and also look at the swimsuit photos in this issue, featuring select pieces from HCSwimwear’s Spring/Summer 2012 collection.

That’s the place Adam Lambert is at right now. His debut, 2009’s For Your Entertainment, was a surprisingly strong collection of songs with a wide range of input from artists and producers like Lady Gaga, P!nk, Linda Perry, Max Martin and Dr. Luke. The result was a sometimes thrilling, sometimes maddening album that showed a lot of potential, but also felt a tad too schizophrenic at points.

With his sophomore effort, Trespassing, Lambert establishes a more solid musical personality: the wild child of the Idol bunch. Trespassing is an arresting collection of fierce, funky dance tracks and deep, pensive ballads. Rather than mix the two styles, the album splits the two into separate halves.

The first seven tracks serving as a non-stop barrage of sassy fun over dubstep-influenced pop. The tracks take on different styles. The title track and “Kickin’ In” both come from Pharrell, and include his signature production style. There’s more attitude on these two tracks alone than you’ll find on an entire Katy Perry album. “Shady,” meanwhile, pairs Adam with Sam Sparro and Nile Rodgers (of Chic fame), and is probably the single coolest song Adam’s recorded to date.

Another pair of songs on the front half of the album are just begging for single release. The first, “Cuckoo,” is a dance song with an immediately catchy chorus. The second, “Naked Love,” is a slightly more laidback song that sounds like a Bruno Mars track with a dance beat. It’s a good thing.

The five tracks that make up the back end of the standard edition are, by comparison, a lot slower. The second half opens with lead single “Better Than I Know Myself,” which works surprisingly well at transitioning the album. It’s the closest Adam comes to replicating his biggest hit, “Whataya Want from Me.” It also starts a theme covered in the back half of the album about troubled relationships. “Broken English” tackles problems with communicating, while “Chokehold” describes the thrill of a toxic relationship.

The highlight of the album is its closer, “Outlaws of Love.” While For Your Entertainment didn’t exactly avoid Adam’s sexuality (with “Fever” being the most prominent example), Trespassing is a bit more explicit in its subject matter, and “Outlaws of Love” is the most haunting example of songs performed from an LGBT perspective. It’s all about the longing for acceptance, a topic that should resonate with many of the album’s listeners.

Trespassing is one of the stronger, more consistent mainstream pop albums to come out in the past year, and with the right push from RCA Records, it could be a big hit. My one complaint? The singles released so far, while good, do not do this album justice. Releasing “Cuckoo” would be a step in the right direction.

Rating: A-