After Austria ousts wannabe model and fashion reporter Brüno (Sacha Baron Cohen), he journeys to Hollywood to make a mark for himself. However, he instead ends up uncovering a world beyond Hollywood and the industry itself, which is ever so revolting.
I hadn’t watched the original clips of Brüno from “Da Ali G Show” when I watched this movie long ago (one too many times, I must confess. I LOVE this movie and Brüno is such a fab boy!). But now that I’ve watched both, I can officially say Brüno’s prototype is way tamer than the one portrayed here. The “Da Ali G Show” version of Brüno pushed the envelope ever so slightly; the movie version of him not only pushes it, but tears the envelope a new one.
While “Ali G’s” Brüno took on everything from light-hearted moments like barn dancing and close looks at the glamour industry, the polished film version is different. It focuses on serious issues like the homophobia and conversion therapy mindset of people in states like Alabama and Arkansas. This theme was only touched upon in the show, but here it is the centre of attention thanks to an appearance by a revolting conversion therapy preacher. Cohen takes dangerous routes to showcase his viewpoints (or as a critic from The Smoking Gun once described, his ‘guerrilla tactics’).
Several story arcs follow Brüno as he hammers his point home. He sasses his way through the Army, a procedure suggested by the preacher in order to “knock some straight pride into the fabulously gay Brüno” (a move that almost cost the movie crew their footage after one of the soldiers recognised Cohen during filming).
Subsequent scenes involve Cohen as he plays his typical shock artist. One skit includes Brüno going on camping trips with some shotgun-wielding homophobic macho dudes while dropping “Sex and the City” references (threats were made towards the crew after ‘Brüno’ got on the hunters’ last nerve). In another scene, Cohen goes for the jugular by holding a raunchy ‘makeout with a man in a cage’ sequence. With rioting locals, this last appeared to almost get Cohen and his co-star lynched by a mob.
“Brüno” also touches upon child exploitation in the film industry in a scene too horrifying to even describe here. Suffice to say, they’re treated as property by certain celebs who won’t be named here.
Cohen does what he does best and exaggerates characteristics of Brüno (a caricature of a wannabe and vain, clout-hungry celeb). He plays him flawed in order to highlight the people around him even more flawed than his fictional character. It’s honestly unnerving to see people expose their worst, vilest qualities in such a manner on camera.
Most of the film’s interactions (except one with Harrison Ford, who was in on the joke) are off-the-cuff. There’s hilarity in these folk’s lack of self awareness, as well as the film’s even sadder reality. You realize how disturbed and even harmful certain strata of society can be with their deluded mindsets.
Cohen gets brownie points for remaining in character throughout this; not to mention keeping his cool with some of the more vile people while still slaying it in the fashion department as well. I drool over Brüno’s fashion sense every chance I get. And I’m jealous of Cohen here; he rocks a velcro suit and struts down a runway at an actual fashion show while organizers literally call security on him. I know a lot of trivia about this movie—that’s how much I adore it!
Special mention to Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten). He doesn’t get a great deal of screen time, but is effective as Brüno’s sidekick and love interest (he plays a crucial role in the ‘makeout in a cage sequence’ I mentioned earlier). For sanity’s sake, I won’t even mention how insanely cute their chemistry is. It’s even better than the chemistry shared by Brüno and ex-Presidential candidate Ron Paul, who is very real and certainly not to be confused with RuPaul.
If you get a kick out of Cohen exposing society’s ills in typical fashion, “Brüno” is a high recommend. I’d also recommend checking out the film’s deleted scenes on YouTube. These take on topics like White supremacy and feature a racist realtor who chillingly has slave owner tendencies about him; which are, in my opinion, enough to recycle for a second outing.
*”Brüno” is currently available to watch on most streaming platforms.
