In the end, what history will remember about Sacha Baron Cohen’s Brüno is its prerelease press blitz, a multifaceted, media- and continent-spanning, months-long tornado of garish visuals, nervous gay focus groups, premature accusations of homophobia, endless in-character TV appearances, and a series of highly theatrical, rigorously costumed premieres around the globe. Now that the film has landed, Brüno’s unprecedented press blitz is revealed for what it is: not the lead-up to another uproarious collision of high satire and low comedy like Cohen’s 2006 smash Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, but a smoke screen for a film that’s barely there.
Fears of Brüno dabbling in potentially dangerous homophobia are quickly vanquished, as the onscreen Brüno has little connection to any homosexual who’s ever lived. He’s a pornographic cartoon—claims of “gay minstrelsy” are not unfounded—but the tissue-thinness of both Cohen’s characterization and Brüno’s plot makes the whole exercise far more insulting to its makers’ reputations than to any social group.
For newcomers: Like Borat, Brüno is a character Cohen played on Da Ali G Show, first on the UK’s Channel Four, then on HBO. A flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion reporter, Brüno would lispingly lead various fashionistas down hilariously incriminating rabbit holes, illuminating the frantic amorality of those who place nothing above style. At the start of the Brüno film, our roving correspondent stumbles into a mess that gets him fired from TV, freeing him up to move to America and commence becoming a superstar.
From this point of departure, Brüno wanders here and there, occasionally stumbling into inspired hilarity but more often than not settling for sub-funny junk. Things get good when Brüno is given a compelling context: The close-to-closing scene at a cage-fighting match in the Deep South is the film’s richest, making a hilarious show of folks who think nothing of watching two guys tear the shit out of each other but cry out for blood should their tongues (or more) entwine. Another good couple of scenes throw Brüno in the figurative ring with Christian “gay conversionists.” But far too much time is wasted on meaningless foolishness with all the wit of Eddie Murphy in a fat suit. For those of us who loved Borat (and Da Ali G Show), it’s depressing. 
Bruno: Sasha Baron Cohen attempts to show that Americans are homophobes; fails.
I thought the Ron Paul scene at least was worth the admission price.
Bruno wansn’t on the Channel Four show, just on the HBO version.
The Cage Fight scene is actually beautiful to watch, haha. I forgot where and when I read it, but Cohen said that it was the only scene in the movie where he actually feared for his life. There is definitely a lack of feeling that this is a film you’re watching as the scenes cut from one scenario to the next, the hand-held camera style also adds to that effect. Watching Bruno is what I consider a unique experience because I don’t think it can recapture your initial reactions as well or as graphic sitting at home. So in short, it’s a one shot deal kind of movie, not even gonna rent it when it’s available, but I’m surprised I enjoyed it the first and only time. Also, the man has giant, adamantium balls to stay in character through some squirmy scenes.
Say what you will about Cohen, but the man has balls of steel- You couldn’t pay me enough money to walk through Jerusalem wearing the Bruno getup, much less interview a terrorist and call Bin Laden an “evil santa”. And going camping with 3 rednecks armed to the teeth? That’s practically my worst nightmare.
I love the Stranger movie reviews.Simply because if the Stranger says it sucks I usually love it.This time was no exception.Thanks for being so pompous and contrarion.
what Josh said. Funniest film I’ve seen in a long time.
Yeah, I thought it was hilarious. Fine theatre it isn’t, but watching rednecks be made uncomfortable and laughing at their expense is always a good laugh.
I wouldn’t say it was the funniest movie I’ve seen all year, or that it’s on par with Borat, but Bruno was definitely better than David gives it credit for. Yeah the homophobia may at times seem forced when he’s throwing himself at unwilling participants (except, of course, for the amazing finale) but I felt it was more of a critique of the blood thirsty state of the entertainment industry than anything else.
i like Cohen, I liked Borat, but there’s no way I’m going to see this mouthbreathery crap.
Sacha Cohen has become … tiresome.
I liked it.
I liked it as well.
We left the theatre (or theater I guess because it was in Renton) with this feeling of “What the fuck did we just see?!?” We couldn’t describe it, we couldn’t compare it to anything; it is its own monster.
I usually leave Dina Martina that way. Not that Bruno compares to Dina, but it was the completely-over-the-top experience I was hoping for. Left with an intangible gut tingle – had I just seen a car wreck? A baby’s birth? An assassination? What was it?!? – in so many ways is better than what I’m normally left with – the sensation of popcorn shells stuck in my gums and a slight tummy ache from too much cherry coke and now it’s time to go home and do laundry before work tomorrow.
I still don’t know if this movie was making fun of or exposing homophobia, fear of sexuality expression, American culture as a whole … There are many ways to dissect it.
It’s worth going if not just to make up your own mind – or to get your own special tingle.
LOVED IT!!! Ditto what Josh said. When The Stranger gives negative, humorless and rather “spineless ninny” reviews, it’s proverbial dangling carrot for me to GO SEE!!! I’ve seen it twice and going for a 3rd. It’s HYSTERICAL!
LOVED IT!!! Ditto what Josh said. When The Stranger gives negative, humorless and rather “spineless ninny” reviews, it’s proverbial dangling carrot for me to GO SEE!!! I’ve seen it twice and going for a 3rd. It’s HYSTERICAL!
I love how The Stranger’s writers only gets serious when something effects their lives, views, “taste” and/or opinions. Everyone else’s? Who cares; laugh away, good times.
It could’ve been worse, I guess. Lindy could’ve written one of her pathetic attempts at having a brain and not being a child. She actually sounds more intelligent when she’s purposely retarded. When she tries to write an actual review, it reads worse than something you’d find in a High School paper.
I’M HIRED BY STUDIOS TO HAWK SHITTY MOVIES…omg, all the haters are soooooooooo hateful that they miss out on having the good time of this! i’d have sex with the movie but it’s not my policy to “use” metaphors!!! to coin a phrase. 😉
glory be to the internets.