Brüno (2009)

Fresh and Exciting

As Good As It Gets

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

With Sacha Baron Cohen back in the public perception with his new series 'Who Is America?', I was reminded I had yet to see his controversial and divisive satire 'Brüno'. While 'Borat' received almost unanimous praise (from those who were not needlessly offended by it), 'Brüno' has come to receive a much more mixed and negative reaction. Just look at its score on this very site, a mere 5.8, which I find rather surprising and in a sense disappointing having now actually seen this film, which I deem to actually be a comic masterpiece. It is outrageously and intentionally offensive to anyone who is at all overly sensitive, and that's the way I like my humour to sometimes be. Cohen isn't afraid to directly mock people from all walks of life in a careless and often surprisingly intelligent manner. While there is plenty of vulgar, crude, sexual humour and borderline pornographic images and jokes at the expense of race, sexuality, etc., the film actually has a few statements to really make, including, in the end, what I find to be a somewhat profound commentary on American homophobia. Some people have found the film to be offensive because they believe it is in some way homophobic and is merely just poking fun at the LGBT community with its over the top stereotyping, when the truth is, if anything, this is a film highly critical of the homophobia it exposes while also being darkly hilarious, shocking, and entertaining. Various segments in this film are eye opening and almost insane, so many of those caught saying the most cruel and offensive things that are actually in this film are really real people, and that's what makes the movie as a whole so simultaneously unnerving and side splittingly funny. There's also a great commentary on celebrity culture, and Cohen's ability to convince actual people with actual public reputations and personas to actually engage in genuinely insensitive, blatantly hypocritical and dishonest things is, if perhaps not the greatest surprise, shocking and disconcerting nonetheless, but also so satisfying and, simply put, brilliant.

How does Borat have a 7.3 and this only a 5.8? Both movies follow basically the same formula: A crazy, super exaggerated walking stereotype played by Sacha Baron Cohen goes to America, getting involved in wacky antics and meeting some celebrities along the way, often in front of real unsuspecting crowds. Do people hate this movie because its the same formula again? I guess you could argue Borat is a little funnier than Bruno, but even still, its hard to get a laugh out of me and I involuntarily burst out laughing at least 15 or 20 times. Is it because of offensive, overly exaggerated gay stereotypes? I know this movie goes a bit far at points, but come on people, have a sense of humor! Pointing out Americans' ignorance of foreigners with funny accents is OK but doing the same thing with gays is too much? Sure. I often find myself rating movies lower than the average score, but this is a great movie, and I'd easily give it a 7 or 8. I honestly have no idea where the hate for this movie is coming from. Granted, its a HARD R and some of its more extreme content might be a little off putting to some, but come on people, this movie is hilarious!

If you have seen the movie Borat, you probably know what to expect from this film. This film is Sacha playing as "Bruno", an Austrian homosexual that wants to become famous in America. This movie follows the same tropes as Borat, including talking to celebrities and being ridiculous in public while pretending to be this character.This movie, like Borat, contains a lot of explicit content and try to do some outrageous things and you get to see how people react to it. One thing that both movies have in common is that apart from the comedy, they have things to say about America and its culture. This one has a lot of things to say, just like Borat.Actually, I feel almost the same way about Borat and Bruno. I do believe that the movie Borat was way funnier. Don't get me wrong, Bruno is a very funny movie, but Borat is way better.Also, I do believe this movie doesn't have a very underlining plot such as Borat. Borat's plot was way more entertaining and got him into funnier situations.I know I shouldn't compare a movie with another one. But it is so hard not to compare these two because they really are similar. In my opinion, you should watch Borat first, if you have watched it, and you liked it, you are probably going to like this one too.

Has some amazing stuff in it – including the infamous swinging penis scene. Unbelievable stuff there. Reminds guys to keep their own in good health, too. Use of a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) delivers amino acids and vitamins directly to the tool. Lots of people don't like Bruno because it isn't as good as Borat, and I think that's a legitimate objection. On the other hand, taken strictly on its own merits, it's got a lot to recommend it – if you are a fan of this style of humor. If not, don't even bother going there. It's in a long line of over-the-top humor films, but there's a big difference between Bruno and the work of, say, Mel Brooks. Different styles for different eras.