Gay Old Time

Bruno is pretty much the sequel to Borat, where an outrageous character goes into real situations and we're supposed to laugh at how others squirm. I admit it can be pretty funny, but it's still a nasty way to get laughs--most of the people we're supposed to laugh at aren't so bad, they're just stuck in embarrassing situations.

I admire Sacha Baron Cohen's bravery, if that's the word. He's willing to go into places where he could be attacked or arrested, and stay in character. Bruno is closer to a one-joke routine than Borat--the latter could be surprised at practically anything, while the former's whole routine is being flamboyantly, excessively gay. (By the way, Bruno will not do as well as Borat. The audience isn't going for it. Maybe they liked Borat better because as outrageous as he was, he was portrayed as an innocent, unwittingly getting into weird situations, whereas Bruno is an obnoxious guy who tries to get into your face.)

The moment I found most fascinating came out of nowhere, and it wasn't even on screen. Bruno is talking to a "reprogrammer," who's going to turn him into a heterosexual. He starts explaining women to Bruno. He notes how different they are--that they can be irritating and won't stick to the point. At that moment, the men in the audience broke into spontaneous applause.