Brüno * (2009, Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten) – Classic Movie Review 535

What a vulgar little man Sacha Baron Cohen is! This Borat-style effort pushes the boundaries of good taste a wee bit further, as Cohen tackles (if that’s the word) his outrageous Austrian gay fashionista character, Brüno, who’s fired from his TV show (Funkyzeit Mit Brüno) in Europe and heads for L.A. determined to become a star –  and Austria’s most famous citizen since Hitler.

The only way is (1) to adopt a black baby and (2) to follow the examples of Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kevin Spacey and become a heterosexual man. So he swindles a baby from the bosom of an African tribe and then proceeds to seek out those nutters who want to try to turn gay people straight.

Fans of provocative, living-on-the-edge and downright filthy comedy will be clutching their stomachs with the onslaught of crazy belly laughs as Cohen mercilessly sends up everyone in sight – gays, Austrians, fashion designers, American rednecks, political idiots, religious bigots – with a lack of subtlety you wouldn’t think possible.

Cohen takes risks, that’s for sure, and his comedy bravery pays off in the laughter department. But, although he’d defend it as an attack on the stupid and the bigoted, and many will say whatever’s good for a laugh is OK, Bruno is an overwhelming avalanche of the cheapest of gags in the worst possible taste.

Hardly staying within the law, Cohen gate-crashes places and situations where he’s not welcome – he deserved to be arrested and strip-searched by Italian police after messing up the Milan Fashion Week catwalk. He also deserved Harrison Ford telling him: ‘**** off.’

Brüno is better than Ali G and Borat at least, and the short running time of 81 minutes is probably a blessing. It moves swiftly and slickly from one scene to the next. It may be shocking or funny, according to taste, but it certainly isn’t boring.

Just to be frank though, you can’t play 19-year-olds at your age, Cohen, and you aren’t god’s gift to men.

Austrian culture minister urged cinemagoers to boycott Brüno, calling its portrayal of his country ‘totally inappropriate’. As Austrians and gay men are famous for their impeccable taste, we hope that at least they will boycott Brüno. It goes without saying that co-star Gustaf Hammarsten is abused as Brüno’s pal, Lutz. Clifford Bañagale is Diesel and Josh Meyers plays Kookus.

Rated R for pervasive strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity and strong language.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 535

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com