Brüno

(2009)

Dir: Larry Charles

Just how much of this film is genuine? That’s the question that I found myself asking after seeing Brüno, the third film from Sacha Baron Cohen’s character stable after 2002’S Ali G Indahouse and 2006’S Borat. Baron Cohen has assured us of genuinity in his third feature, this time following the American exploits of gay fashionista Brüno as he attempts to become famous. If this is true then, just like Borat, there are some hilarious moments. But the humour doesn’t come solely from the central character, who is, in all fairness, a cartoonish gay caricature. Baron Cohen uses this outlandish stereotype as the most effective means to garner a reaction from his uptight, deeply homophobic American landlords.

With some of the players in this mockumentary, the ridiculous Brüno character is redundant, with any gay individual eliciting a hostile and sometimes violent response. Particular fun are Bruno’s exploits with the Christian ‘gay converters’, who suggest to the former fashion reporter different heterosexual tasks. These ironically include going hunting with a bunch of other guys, cage fighting, a swinger’s party and joining the army.

But, as with the boring and lazy naked hotel romp in Borat, there are moments in Brüno which resort to slapstick for cheap laughs. Brüno simulating oral sex with an invisible Rob Pilatus of Milli Vanilli, as the poor spiritualist looks on, has none of the cutting bite of other scenes. There are standouts, such as Bruno interviewing several parents who are desperate for their children to become famous, so desperate in fact that they are perfectly fine with Bruno suggesting their babies have liposuction or wear Nazi uniforms.

Like its Kazakhstani cousin, Brüno works best as a commentary on American culture. When it becomes too much in love with its titular character, it fails. Thankfully, there’s plenty of the former to satisfy ... darling.

*** ¼ / *****

“Star ratings are so 2006.”