MOVIE REVIEW
BRUNO
There are comedians happy in playing it safe with inoffensive humour everyone can enjoy. Then there are those like Sacha Baron Cohen who like to rattle the cage of political correctness with unrelenting glee. This stifling enclosure is well and truly shaken in his latest effort Bruno, documenting the adventures of a gay TV host desperate to find fame in America. Fans of his previous work Borat may feel familiar territory is taken, with Cohen continuing to expose the sometimes weird outlook of our delightful Yankee cousins.
This isn't to suggest that Cohen is charting a course of 'America bashing', but rather he seems interested in confronting the strict morality the country has consumed. In conducting various interviews with gun shooting rednecks, homophobic preachers and individuals of a 'certain intelligence', it almost feels as if he's daring the viewer to actually relate to these people. By showing their reactions to Bruno's saucy antics, the film becomes confronting in how we respond to our own standards with some scenes pushing the envelope in outrageous taste.
Placed in context with Borat, Bruno falters somewhat in its style. Where the previous effort succeeded due to its generally improvisational approach, Bruno suffers from its reliance on a more formal structure. Ironic given how its theme is one of tackling conformity, sadly the overall result isn't half as funny as it could have been. The more potent scenes are the apparently unscripted moments that are genuinely hilarious versus the obviously set up routines that quickly fade. It's a pity that the latter is mostly used, as this battle between the looser comedic tone against strident format threatens to occasionally sink proceedings.
Despite this, credit goes to Baron Cohen for being brave enough to give his all in the name of laughs. What's interesting about his skills is how he manages to draw out the comedy out of some very uncomfortable situations. It's uncommon to see a message successfully expressed in a humorous way, but his dealings with some narrow minded people highlight his themes. As a character, Bruno mirrors the more eager star wanting to feel worthy in the world by doing 'good deeds', but ends up being the wrong sort of famous samaritan.
Definitely not for everyone and like Borat, Bruno can be a very acquired taste. Cohen's eagerness at provoking a response may offend some, but that's perhaps the whole point in stretching our comedic boundaries. Generally a mixed bag due to its format, in a modern world where people apparently loved being shocked, Bruno should do the trick for the more prudish of our society.
Movie Review Rating 5 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Bruno released in Australia on Thursday 8th July 2009.
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Bruno
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.
BRUNO Official Homepage click HERE
This isn't to suggest that Cohen is charting a course of 'America bashing', but rather he seems interested in confronting the strict morality the country has consumed. In conducting various interviews with gun shooting rednecks, homophobic preachers and individuals of a 'certain intelligence', it almost feels as if he's daring the viewer to actually relate to these people. By showing their reactions to Bruno's saucy antics, the film becomes confronting in how we respond to our own standards with some scenes pushing the envelope in outrageous taste.
Placed in context with Borat, Bruno falters somewhat in its style. Where the previous effort succeeded due to its generally improvisational approach, Bruno suffers from its reliance on a more formal structure. Ironic given how its theme is one of tackling conformity, sadly the overall result isn't half as funny as it could have been. The more potent scenes are the apparently unscripted moments that are genuinely hilarious versus the obviously set up routines that quickly fade. It's a pity that the latter is mostly used, as this battle between the looser comedic tone against strident format threatens to occasionally sink proceedings.
Despite this, credit goes to Baron Cohen for being brave enough to give his all in the name of laughs. What's interesting about his skills is how he manages to draw out the comedy out of some very uncomfortable situations. It's uncommon to see a message successfully expressed in a humorous way, but his dealings with some narrow minded people highlight his themes. As a character, Bruno mirrors the more eager star wanting to feel worthy in the world by doing 'good deeds', but ends up being the wrong sort of famous samaritan.
Definitely not for everyone and like Borat, Bruno can be a very acquired taste. Cohen's eagerness at provoking a response may offend some, but that's perhaps the whole point in stretching our comedic boundaries. Generally a mixed bag due to its format, in a modern world where people apparently loved being shocked, Bruno should do the trick for the more prudish of our society.
Movie Review Rating 5 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Bruno released in Australia on Thursday 8th July 2009.
If you have any comments to make about this Movie Review, then please use the comment box, titling your comments with Movie Review Bruno
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at current movie releases in Australia.
BRUNO Official Homepage click HERE
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