By Noel deCordova
Sun Staff Intern
Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest vehicle for offensive comedy, “Brüno,” is among the most absurd movies I’ve seen in recent memory. I’m going to be upfront about this: This film will offend you. This film will visually disturb you.
Finally, this film will not fail to make you laugh.
The premise resides on the thin line between satire and ugly realism. Brüno (played by Cohen) is a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion reporter who travels with his assistant Lutz (played by Gustaf Hammarsten) to America with one goal: To become world famous.
The fact that this movie is at times a sucker punch to any moral values one could think of should come as no surprise. Cohen’s previous film, the hilarious “Borat,” was undoubtedly funny and yet immensely polarizing. In this sense, however, “Brüno” pushes the envelope even further.
This film is at its best when Brüno is interviewing various individuals and making them visibly uncomfortable. One of the funniest moments comes when Brüno, in an effort to gain fame by tackling global issues, simultaneously interviews Israeli and Palestinian authority figures. Helmed by Brüno, the conversation devolves into a discussion about hummus; the clueless Brüno manages to get the two opposing figures to shake hands in agreement that hummus is, in fact, delicious.
However, the movie is more often visually arresting. Some of the scenes (which I simply cannot describe here) will make your eyes feel like twin speed bags, bleeding sand as they are relentlessly pummeled. Unfortunately, the sheer number of these scenes dampen the movie’s humor, and leave you feeling more grossed-out than humored. I walked out realizing that I had cringed more than I had laughed.
The film, like its spiritual prequel “Borat,” is partly filmed in real time, with Brüno injecting himself into true life situations and getting any reaction he can. One of the many shocking moments comes during an interview with the real 2008 Republican Party nominee, Ron Paul. After a staged technical issue which forces the pair to move to a private room alone, Brüno begins to seduce the shocked Paul, who storms out, yelling very real insults along the way.
Despite the film’s numerous flaws, Sacha Baron Cohen must be applauded. His determination can clearly be seen in his refusal to leave his character, both on and off screen. He also seems utterly fearless at times, whether he’s interviewing known terrorists or showing up to boot camp a bit out of dress code. There’s a climactic scene in a cage-fight match that makes me wonder if any comedian has ever been as driven as Cohen. He has surely cemented his status as one of the most important comedians in this era, at the very least.
The film is obviously a look at homosexuality and how it is perceived by the rest of the world, just as “Borat” was a critique of politics and religion. But it simply was not as funny as that movie, yet more offensive, which is a trade-off I have to dislike. “Brüno” gets 2.5 stars out of 4 from me.
A final warning: This film is very, very R rated. Go at your own risk.