Über funny or über gay, Brüno gets ballsy in America

What can be said about Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest “documentary” Brüno? With bolder quips and tricks, Cohen continues what he does best in films based on characters he originated in Da Ali G Show. In the film Borat, Cohen’s character was a martyr for the immigrant and American-Middle Eastern society in a post 9/11 America. With his ignorant Austrian fashionista character, Brüno, Cohen forms a martyr for a different society of people, shining light on some of the conflict in straight v.s. gay America.

Brüno is a raunchy apocalyptic gay mocumentary defacing American values with some male full frontal involved. It is raunchy because you get a shotgun seat to a swingers party in Alabama. It is apocalyptic, simply because of a baby photoshoot gone biblically immoral. And G-A-Y, since the non-stop techno music in the beginning sets the mood for the entire movie exuding guy on guy action; even if the guy is a ghost. In comparison to Borat, Brüno is taking it to the limit with no pun intended.

Brüno is trying to do his job as an interviewer for his garnered Austrian fashion show called Fashionpolizei (Fashion Police). After being blacklisted (and fired) during fashion week in Milan and during his time in L.A., he continually attempts to find new ways to become famous overnight. Along with his assistant Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten) Brüno does whatever it takes to make it in America. We can only imagine what the DVD will contain after viewing all the nudity alone. If there is an unrated version, be prepared for some shocking scenes that were blacked out.

Along with borderline-pornographic scenes, there were many deleted scenes from the film that were previewed in the trailer. A certain scene was recently cut due to a lawsuit that was pending during the time of the North American release. Also, due to the recent death of Michael Jackson, a scene where LaToya Jackson is interviewed by Brüno was cut from the final version of the film.

Although Cohen’s Brüno brings a gay soft to hardcore porn ambience, he also manages to send a message throughout the controlled waves of point, laugh, and repeat. Gay life in a homophobic America isn’t easy, even for a gay Austrian who can’t get married, have children, or be famous – without going into the closet. Maybe it’s those three letters, G-A-Y, that makes this movie vulgar to many and unanimously funny to others. Whether audiences can separate a joke from porn, a person from sexual orientation, or acceptance from hate is where the great debate lies in the deep crevasse of Brüno.