Sacha Baron Cohen: Grimsby movie is about family

Sacha Baron Cohen turned up to the world premiere of his new film, Grimsby, as the lead character from it, urging people of the town to go and see the movie before judging it.

It's after criticism from some local people who are worried it portrays the town in a bad light.

"The truth is there's a fear they're going to see the film and chuck their beer cans at the screen, boo, you know, spit and scream abusive material at the screens," he said.

"And if they don't like it things will be even worse."

On why people should see the movie, Nobby responded: "It's got an Ed Sheeran track... it's got some of the most disgusting things you've ever seen, and it's also a beautiful story about family."

The cast for the movie revealed that Sacha Baron Cohen remained in character as Nobby whenever he interacted with them.

Co-star Mark Strong added that "some will love it and some won't".

"But that's the nature of everything. I mean people who know Sacha's comedy know what it's about. It's anarchic chaos, it pushes the envelope.

"He's a lovely man, I don't think he'd intentionally intend to be offensive to anybody who couldn't handle it."

He said that people "have a choice" and added: "If you're worried don't go and see the movie but the fact is if you do, you'll laugh, you'll laugh yourself silly."

Mark Strong and Sacha Baron Cohen as Nobby

Baron Cohen told Newsbeat at this year's Bafta awards: "Personally I think most of them will actually love it."

The movie sees him playing Nobby, a football hooligan from Grimsby, who's reunited with his long-lost secret agent brother (played by Mark Strong).

"I think some of them will hate it but those people probably will never see the film anyway," Baron Cohen said.

"But I think those that see it will love it and we've got a great kid who plays my son who's from Grimsby and he's fantastic in the film."

Baron Cohen is well known for playing extravagant and controversial characters such as Borat, a reporter from Kazakhstan, and Bruno, an Austrian fashion guru.

Ray Oxby, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, sees the lighter side.

He said: "If you've seen Borat and his other films you'll realise he just takes the mickey out of everybody so we just take it on the chin and laugh at it."

Watch the trailer for Grimsby.

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