DVD Review
Brüno
Directed by: Larry Charles Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten Running Time: 1 hr 25 mins Rating: R Due Out: November 10, 2009
PLOT: Gay Austrian fashionista Brüno has a talk show that gets canceled, so he decides to head to Hollywood to become famous. But he soon realizes it’s much more difficult than he originally thought.
WHO'S IT FOR? You’ve got to have an open mind although it doesn’t push the homophobic boundaries as much as I thought. It's really just a nice pile of sketches so complete focus isn't necessary.
MOVIE:
It’s not gay bashing, it’s not pro-gay … Brüno is just gay, but that’s not the focus of the film. At the heart (I mean center, there really is no heart) it’s a focus on the idiots/ignornants/oddities of American society. Borat feels like a story, Brüno comes off more as sketches, very funny sketches. It’s like a rated-R Daily Show.
MOVIE SCORE: 7/10
EXTRAS
Alternative Scenes: Pete Rose and Politician Sex Tape are found here. They were able to snag Rose for the interview just like Paula Abdul, but nothing funny really comes of it. Politician Sex Tape is just an extended showcase of other politicians that Brüno tries to seduce.
Deleted Scenes: No, I don't really know the difference between the "alternative" and "deleted" scenes. La Toya Jackson is a space cadet and that scene easily could have made the final cut. There are 11 scenes here, perhaps the most powerful is the anti-gay marriage parade. Arschers are for scheissing ... what a great chant for a rally.
Interview with Llyod Robinson: The in-over-his-head talent agent is interviewed after the film, even talking about seeing a Brüno poster and thinking he missed the boat on this star.
OTHER EXTRAS:
Commentary with Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles Extended scenes
EXTRAS SCORE: 7/10
OVERALL
Cohen’s passion is unmatched. He throws himself into situations for the hope of making people laugh and is probably the most daring actor out there right now. The moments of drama and scripted drama doesn’t hold nearly as much humor or interest for me as the times he’s talking to all the real people. And while his interviews with Paula Abdul and Ron Paul are interesting, they are nothing compared to Brüno talking with parents of child actors or a gay converter.
It's a movie set up for DVD. While the extras aren't the gold I was hoping for, except for the commentary that let's you inside the world of how to make such a film. Thankfully Cohen isn't in character for it. Watch the film with a group and you'll laugh. More importantly you'll be able to pause and rewind when everyone says, "Wait, what did he just say?!" Though not as successful or focused as Borat, Brüno packs a comedic punch.
FINAL SCORE: 7/10