'Bruno' will make you laugh, once the shock wears off
By: Sally Kline
Examiner Movie Critic
July 10, 2009
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| Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the title role character in "Bruno." (AP) |
Sacha Baron Cohen makes everybody a target in a movie that lampoons prejudice, celebrity worship
If you go'Brno'
3 out of 5 Stars
Star: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten
Director: Larry Charles
Rated R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Running Time: 82 minutes
Throughout "Brno," today's raunch-a-thon from "Borat's" Sacha Baron Cohen, his new gay fashionista alter ego is obsessed with that area of the human anatomy that involves sitting and other more private bodily functions.
Some of you will laugh yours off and some of you will be offended by his latest button-pushing mockumentary. But it's hard to deny that the unique Brit star is among the most fearless and creative improvisational comedians to ever grace the big screen.
That a guy can be so amiable and yet so perverted while never breaking character -- love him or hate him -- "Brno" is at least a noteworthy tour de force in contemporary performance art. And, as an ironic bonus, it reinforces the worst homosexual stereotypes even as it exposes the still rampant ugliness of homophobia in the culture.
But it took me a while to get over the shock (of gags way too graphic to describe here) and start laughing with this random piece about a flaming Austrian glamour victim who travels America as he tries to become a famous celebrity. But once I let down my defenses and just let the vulgarity wash over me, oh boy!
Cohen as Brno, a character he originated on his old HBO gig "Da Ali G Show," mingles with both actors in on the joke and real people. The lines between staged bits and actual examples of appalled bystanders are blurred. That sometimes distracts from the movie as you wonder about which reactions are sincere.
But suffice it too say that everyone's a target as the movie lampoons prejudice and celebrity worship. Featured objects of ridicule include: dim-witted "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, fringe presidential candidate Ron Paul, Chassidic Jews, Mexicans, African-Americans, the evangelical Christian gay-conversion movement and Southern rednecks.
Brno adopts a Third World child to mimic Madonna and Brangelina, confuses Hamas and hummus as he tries to broker a Middle East peace accord and overdoses on carbs to induce a one-night stand with his adoring assistant/love interest Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten).
As directed by "Borat's" Larry Charles with writing credit given to Cohen, Anthony Hines, Dan Mazer and Jeff Schaffer, "Brno" takes shots at Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise and other biggies. But in the final scene, other biggies like Sting, Bono and Elton John participate in the outrageousness.
Cohen's warped genius has co-opted the establishment even as he skewers it.
