Review: Bruno (2009)

Director: Larry Charles (Borat, Religulous)

Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat, Talladega Nights), Gustaf Hammarsten

The Deal: Bruno is a gay Austrian fashion guru with his own television show, the most popular German-language show of its kind outside of Germany. After disgracing himself, he decides to travel to L.A. with hopes of reinventing himself and claiming Hollywood stardom. Traveling around, Bruno interviews random people regarding topics such as fashion, entertainment, celebrities, and homosexuality.

Thoughts: To be honest, I wasn't very high on Cohen's previous effort (yes, that's you Borat) to begin with. I never understood what was so great about it. Yes, it did have a few funny moments, but overall, I found it incredibly forgettable. Bruno brings more of the same style, yet suffers from all of the same problems. It's probably just me, but I find all of his crazy antics mildly funny at best. They are so extreme that the random people's reactions are predictable, and therefor not as funny. It also doesn't help that most of the best moments were also included in the film's trailer.

Sacha Baron Cohen is truly a daring actor, standing on a pedestal all of his own. He has no personal limitations on what he won't do, and his antics are always insanely crazy. He falls into character effortlessly, spending time both on and off the set living his role, and there's no questioning his commitment. Many of his actions are outlandish and jaw-dropping, but many are also disturbing. It makes for great entertainment for some, but also deeply upsets many. I don't find his actions upsetting, but they aren't that funny, just predictable given his actions around the nearby subjects.

If you are homophobic, this film will terrify you. The last half of the film does nothing but explore Borat's gay side, and at times gets fairly graphic. As expected, Borat tests the limits of extreme anti-gays in the deep South, and their reactions are exactly what you'd expect them to be. Some may find it funny, but the predictability is what makes it short on entertainment. The subject matter and corresponding actions could have made for a challenging film that questions the rights and wrongs of homosexuality, but instead, it makes a mockery of the subject. If only that mockery was funny.

Verdict: A giant step back from the grossly overrated Borat, Bruno fails to reach most of its comedic and intellectual potential, resulting in a far too predictable story. ☆