Brüno (2009)

Directed by Larry Charles. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Bañagale. [R]

Following in the slovenly satirical footsteps of Ali G Indahouse and Borat, Cohen brings his third caricature of mockery to the big screen: Brüno, an outrageously vacuous and flamboyantly gay Austrian fashion reporter who heads for the US to become “the biggest Austrian celebrity since Hitler.” Wildly uneven but sporadically hysterical comedy seems certain to upset as many in the audience as it will delight; Cohen’s fearless but overblown approach spoils opportunities for more incisive and thoughtful forms of ridicule, but once he’s accepted on his own terms, there are plenty of laughs to be had mixed in with dry (or discomforting) spells. Highlights: talk show focus group, velcro fashion, toddler model-wannabe parents, little O.J. at the airport, Straight Dave’s Man Slammin’ Maxout. Because he plays such a garish exaggeration, Cohen’s efforts do less to expose rampant homophobia than prove that there are a lot of fools out there who’ll believe just about anything, especially if there’s a camera in the vicinity.

66/100