Bruno

(2009)

Directed by

Larry Charles

Review by Todd Plucknett

Posted - 7/30/09

I was not a fan of Borat, the first film collaboration between Sacha Baron Cohen and director Larry Charles that somehow went all the way to the Oscars. When I first heard about Bruno, I could not have felt more indifferent. When I saw the trailer, I thought it looked like the most vile and juvenile thing ever. Upon reading some reviews and getting the ultimate mixed opinion on the film, I had to see for myself. I really need to stop being so curious.

Bruno is another one of Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters from his cult TV show “Da Ali G Show.” Bruno is a young gay Austrian fashion reporter. After getting fired, he moves to America to become a movie star. He gets on the pilot for a celebrity interview show, consults PR consultants, goes on talk shows, tries to make a sex tape with Ron Paul (mistaken for RuPaul), and attempts to contact the deceased Milli Vanilli for advice on how to become a worldwide superstar. Basically, it is the same premise as Borat. Instead of searching for Pamela Anderson, he is searching for the secret to stardom in America. This time, however, it is tired, irritating, and altogether stupid.

Cohen’s routine as Bruno is ridiculously unfunny. What was he even trying to do with that? I can only commend his performance for what he physically subjects himself to. Borat was at least likable and the audience was able to laugh at him and his predicaments. In Bruno, the audience is much more like the people Bruno encounters: irritated, offended, and uncomfortable. Simply being blunt and unrestricted is not enough to pull laughs out of the audience.

While Borat was by no means a great film, it looks like a masterpiece compared to this piece of trash. Borat had some interesting commentary on America; some of it false, some true, mostly all amusing. Bruno tries to do the same, but can only come up with close-minded and cliché points, and uses some of the most aggressive and offensive stereotyping I have ever heard. Borat had some classic moments, but sadly in Bruno, there is no naked wrestling, chasing Pam Anderson through the parking lot, or Kazakhstan national anthems. Instead, we are stuck watching an MMA fight turn into gay sex, a penis that does tricks including shouting “Bruno!”, and chasing a karate instructor around a room with three dildos. Funny stuff, eh?

There are a few laughs to be had here. I mildly laughed more out of feeling uncomfortable than out of being amused when Bruno was simulating graphic sex acts with the thin air. There is a line where Bruno makes reference to the fact that all the big actors in Hollywood like Cruise, Spacey, and Travolta all have only one thing in common: they are all straight, so he would have to go to “cockaholics anonymous” to cure himself. I chuckled at this for some reason. The only reason for the generous half star rating is the semi-hilarious closing credit song with Bruno singing with Bono, Chris Martin, Slash, Snoop Dogg, and Elton John. The song is quite clever and funny, unlike any of the previous 70 or so minutes of the film’s agonizing running time. It was a breath of fresh air.

The problems with Bruno are rampant. It doesn’t even seem like a movie. It is more like a TV sketch that is worn thin after a few minutes. I cannot stand that narrative style. In Borat, at least we could believe that he was actually filming a documentary like that. In Bruno, it is 100% staged. Nobody reacts the way they would in real life, which takes even more away from the already dead comedy. The jokes in Bruno are grotesque and distasteful. The characters are infuriating. Cohen does have an ear for satire and a knack for slapstick comedy, but not a single ounce of that talent is represented in Bruno. The only thing that kept me watching was the curiosity of what Cohen was going to do to himself next.

The film aims to shock the audience into laughter with obscene and disgusting images. Some people apparently find that humorous. If that is you, go right ahead and see this. If you require some substance with your comedy, stay as far away as possible. To put it in perspective, think of the dirtiest racist and gay jokes you have heard. Visualize them. Make them twice as dirty, ten times as distasteful, and take the humor out of it. Do this for 81 minutes straight. That is what it is like watching Bruno. Do not subject yourself to that kind of torture.

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