Brüno (2009)

Brüno is well… hmm, hell, what is Brüno? It’s a see once and forget, shockingly funny, and seriously wrong film that revolves around an exiled fashion flamer who wants to re-image himself in the US. Did I say see once and forget?

Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat) as Bruno, is directed by Larry Charles (Mad About You, Entourage) in this audacious shock comedy about a homosexual Austrian fashionista who becomes blacklisted all over the UK and feels the need to reinvent himself stateside. With his trusty Assistants’ Assistant in tow, he begins a journey that will take him to levels he never though possible. From attempts to seduce politicians, father an African baby, and even give up his way of life in pursuit of straight fame, Brüno goes the gamut to reclaim his stardom and become, “the biggest Austrian celebrity since Hitler.”

As ridiculous as Borat was, it was interestingly curious to witness the state of our society in regards to someone as seemingly naïve as the character portrayed. In that sense, again Cohen excels, but in doing so may have fanned the flames of homophobia across the US. The blatant attacks on the Catholic Church and Southern “Good ‘ol Boys”, while outrageously funny, were hard to watch and borderline inappropriate. But that’s what this movie is all about, shock value… and there is plenty of it, but at what cost? All of the antics were crude and perverse, and many of the situations bewitchingly embarrassing. It was fun to watch the first time, but never again.

To close, I don’t recommend this film to anyone who doesn’t have a homosexual friend, or is extremely aware of gay culture. The movie can be fun to watch, but painful for all parties involved. It would otherwise just add to your disgust and discontent of an entire grouping of people all over the globe. But ask yourself this, “How do you protect yourself from a dildo?”

5.7/10

Rated: R
81 mins.