Without ripping everything to shreds, I laughed pretty much the whole way through, so I guess it was a hit. If I was hanging off a cliff and had to choose one or die...I'd let go and crash to my death. SBC is so multifaceted and such a genius that you have to take all of him or none at all, and that includes Brüno, baby. If only they hadn't pulled the scene where La Toya eats the sushi off the gardener...Classic!

It's natural to react to obnoxious, rude people by either nodding passively to their absurd statements or to be upset with their antics. These movies don't satirize or have any worthwhile commentary on any deep social issues. Also, it's not that funny to see people react in ways you would expect them to.

The only thing impressive about Mr. Cohen's schtick is his ability of not dropping character in extreme conditions. However, that discipline alone doesn't make up for the sloppy plot, hit and miss pranks, and groaner gags.

I don't know why people are reading more into these movies than they are. I guess they are looking to justify their bad tastes in movies. Like saying "Transformers 2" is great because it had alot of special effects and explosions. Plot, acting, etc. is not important because it's based on a children cartoon and toy.

Did someone just use the words "organic" and "Borat" in the same sentence??

This movie was amazing! Rolling stone sucks, read a real music rag.

Well, seen Brüno and I LOVED it! It's incredibly funny, even more hilarious than Borat. I've never laughed as much at anything, and certainly not any movie. I laughed till my stomach hurt. It's incredible and Sacha Baron Cohen's comic timing and his sheer physical comedy is incredible. That man's a genius! And brave, too... Some of those situations he got into could have truly gotten him killed or at least seriously injured.

There are so many verbal jokes, so much slapstick, unbelievably funny gags that there's not one boring moment... I really did laugh all through it and just simply enjoyed it immensely. SBC is probably the most talented and the most courageous comedian ever lived. Five stars, and this will always be one of my favorite movies. I kept on starting to laugh on my way home from the cinema, too, remembering some of the jokes, and got some very strange looks. I especially remembered the Harrison Ford interview and the dance before it...

Bruno sucks LONG lIVE BORAT!
even know it is "SO" 2006

it was awful

Bruno was a subversive triumph. After Borat it was amazing to me that Baron Cohen could even try to do this. To have his body, which is normally very hairy, groomed to perfection shows me that Baron Cohen is one of the most original comedians in the world. In Borat he exposed America's anti-semitism, sexism and sheer lack of understanding of what happens beyond it's borders. Bruno does exactly the same, but it adds anti-gay bigotry to the mix. It is a brilliant parody. Thsi movie is worth seeing for the interviews of stage parents and the sex act on the spirit alone.

i think boarts a pretty cool guy. eh kills gays and doesnt afraid of anyone.

As a gay man, it was depressing for me to watch this. Too many homophobes in the audiences, laughing at the "queer" on screen. Hey Sascha, thanks for making fun of us.

Maybe Borat was a bit funnier but I really enjoyed Bruno.

The thing that disturbed me the most in the movie is the fact that the Bruno character is not really dumber than Paris Hilton. Seriously.

You take all the best line in Bruno and this is something that Paris Hilton could have said in the reel world.

Last years after the Grammys Paris Hilton said to Paul McCartney that she wants to do an album with him and she’s a signer and she have an album.

Even Bruno can’t top that.

I've not seen either movie. I don't have a TV or a DVD player or electricity in my house. I last saw a movie in 2002 and it wasn't funny. I prefer books.

Bruno was way funnier than Borat.
I was not told anything about no refund policy. I have actually never thought about asking for refund even for movies I didn't like.
PS
You must have some balls to go to the guy from Al Aqusa and tell him that his king Osama looks like a dirty wizard.

As my friends and I left the theater on a high, all of us having loved it, a kid who walked out was standing by his car waiting for his friends and warned us not to see Bruno (too late) because "It's the gayest movie I've ever seen." So yeah, I'm guessing it's homophobia.

Bruno was funnier than most comedies, but that isn't saying much. It's definitely not as great a Borat.

As for getting a refund when a movie offends you, I absolutely don't think you're entitled to one. That said, it's probably just a matter of good business policy for a theater to at least give a free movie ticket to complaining customers.

Borat wasn't funny and neither is this movie. Period.

I think that Bruno was pretty good, Borat was a little better, but you have to cut Cohen a little slack. He did a lot of things in that movie that not many actors out there would even consider putting in their movie. So I don't think people should be so quick to compare Bruno to Borat. Even though it's a little over the top sometimes, it was still fun to watch, and much better to sit through than crap like Transformers or that Beth Cooper movie.

I did not get a "no refund" disclaimer. But as far as the shock value that likely influenced such policies, I have to say that after /Borat/ I was absolutely expecting something like a dancing penis, so there was no shock for me. Parts of the film were groan-worthy for sure, but some of it seemed a little more scripted than Borat, which was somewhat disappointing when it was obvious, but it didn't ruin the film, I didn't think.

As for the question of the film's treatment of homosexuality, I think the film succeeds in exposing the true homophobes in the audience by getting laughs out of them at what should be inappropriate moments. I was a bit disconcerted at what actually made people around me in the theatre laugh.

However, for me the major point of the film was not necessarily anything to do with homosexuality. For me the most critical commentary was on the contemporary fixation on fame. Bruno seems willing to do anything to become famous, and the people trying to help him are very superficial about their approaches to doing so (I'm thinking here of the PR firm where the twins can't even pronounce Darfur, but suggest using it as a cause, and the fact that Bruno puts himself in harm's way to try and find his "in" for fame and fortune). Still, there are obvious exposures of homophia and bigotry in the film, the power of which, I think, outweigh any homophobic complacency the film may be guilty of.

My $0.02

H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S.

Just as funny as Borat.

I never had any desire to see Borat. One night after it came out on DVD, I went to a friend's house for movie night. Borat was the movie of choice. I considered bowing out, but they had also made me dinner and poured a few drinks. I figured, if I hated it that much, I could feign falling asleep and then leave early. Much to my surprise, I laughed so hard that a few times they had to pause the movie for me to compose myself so we could watch more. For different reasons, I have no desire to see Bruno, but will probably catch it later on DVD. I'm just kind of over the whole "gag." Especially the "if you want to find ignorant people go to the Southern Part of the US." It's getting tired. There is blatant homophobia and ignorance everywhere and singling out the South is getting a little tired. I think Sasha is an incredibly talented man and I won't make a judgement call on the movie since I haven't seen it, but with the numerous commercials I've seen, it just looks the same to me. Over the top character fools people. Also, from what I've read, this film tries to pass off men trying to deflect aggressive homosexual advances as homophobia. I'm gay and there is nothing worse than someone you are not attracted to making very aggressive advances towards you. This doesn't make you "phobic" in anyway, just defensive. There is a difference. I praise Sasha on his success and I hope he's able to take his talent in a new direction as I think we've exhausted this genre.

To Jordan- I'm suprised you were able to peel yourself away from Transformers long enough to comment.
To Annalise- So you have a problem with two guys kissing each other? I got news for ya- it's something you can't avoid unless you live in Alabama and drink whiskey on your front porch while shooting at squirrels for the hell of it. Gay people kiss-deal with it!
What we have here are two immature idiots that needed to be called out.

Jordan, BruNOT (how clever), EMS, Annalise, ACHILLES (nice metaphor for your sense of humor), sarita, cool your tits. Bruno was hilarious, either you are petrified homosexuals or insecure and uncomfortable heterosexuals.

it was disgusting and a one-joke movie. we get it, youre gay. lets get a new joke now.

i left the movie theater after 15 minutes- and on my way home wondered why i didn't ask for my money back.

Loved this film. It wasn't safe, it didn't toe the line and clearly wasn't shown to a focus group beforehand for pre-approval. On top of that it was frigging hilarious. The theatre I was at people were laughing pretty hard.
I actually preferred this to Borat because it was a tighter film overall and he doesn't just go after people who are obviously homophobic but people who were "liberal" as well. Cohen's brilliance is a combination of his talent, and courage. Not many people have the ability (or willingness) to create an entertaining film with a strong social message. His character is a homophobic's perception of gay men, and the havoc they would wreak on the world. Completely ridiculous naturally - but it needs to be said and seen.

Even though it wasnt as good as Borat, it was seriously funny. There was a mix of shock value (the meat swing shots) and legitimate humor (calling Mel Gibson "Der Fuhrer"). I had no problem paying $10 to see it, totally worth the price of admission

First, the refund issue: since Hollywood is directly complicit in the movement to hunt down 'illegal' downloaders and other types of 'pirates', the industry should thus be expected to live up to a number of standards as well. Beyond all else, every film (independent, action, horror, comedy, etc) claims that it will offer an entertaining viewing experience to its audience. Thus, in a time of historically elevated ticket prices, when a film fails to live up to its claim, the consumer should have the right to expect a refund for what turns out to be a false claim.

Every other industry must follow through with the claims it makes about its goods, otherwise people will understandably seek a refund or exchange; this is of such importance that we have laws to govern the upholding of consumer rights. For example, if my Nikes fall to pieces in a few weeks, if my Levi’s disintegrate after a single washing, if my ipod fails to function, if there’s an arm hair in my Big Mac (etc) I can easily seek a refund. However, the industry that demands unprecedented legal constraints on what should and shouldn’t be viewed in a person’s home also seems to believe that basic standards and obligations do not apply to their business practices.

Naturally, Hollywood objects to this degree of accountability because they’re just about the only [industry] and definitely the most notorious for knowingly lobbing sub standard goods at an increasingly frustrated marketplace. Perhaps if Hollywood was held to a higher standard of accountability to its consumer base, we’d see much less tripe finding its way to the big screen.

As for homophobia factoring in to whether people view Bruno or not, who cares. Personally, I’m nearly the polar opposite of homophobic (I say ‘nearly’ because I’m not gay) and have no hateful biases. However, people are not only entitled to be homophobic, but to allow that mindset to dictate their viewing habits, among other things. Honestly though, who could blame a homophobe for having no interest in Bruno—a film that derives the bulk of its comic moments from scorning, degrading and generally laughing at anyone who feels uncomfortable with having their nose rubbed in extreme homoerotic scenarios.

My objections are actually directed to the artist himself, Sacha Baron Cohen, whose intent and message as an actor/ writer/ filmmaker elude me. The main punch line of Bruno is the character’s obliviousness and his blatantly stereotypical sexual orientation; we’re expected to laugh at how he speaks, dresses and generally cavorts, never realizing that people are amused by his mostly rodeo-clown like attire. This film isn’t a social critique because it scoffs at both the main character and those with whom he interacts simultaneously. Bruno never strives for more than a quick cheap laugh, as it never endeavors to teach its audience or its targets anything about the possible problematic nature of certain attitudes they may harbor. Further, there was an ongoing theme in Bruno’s statements that from time to time made comical light of the fact that he’s a Hitler worshipping Nazi.

All of this causes me to conclude that the biggest laugh has been reserved for Mister Cohen, all the way to the bank, as it were. The biggest gag of the film is ironically nowhere to be found within, but rather in its wake. Critics by the droves have each taken their feeble pseudo-intellectual shots at deciphering what they believe to be the intended subtext, meanings and commentaries intended by this film. By so doing, they have co-opted the filmmaker’s responsibility to discuss his work or to allow the work to speak for itself. How Sacha aka Ali G aka Borat aka Bruno must be laughing to himself, as this is the pinnacle of what he satirizes; self-important, masturbatory, oblivious empty suits convinced of their own genius, yet desperate to gain acceptance from those they most scorn.

The strength of Da Ali G Show, which featured all three of Mister Cohen’s aliases, was its ability to quickly and bluntly expose and critique its targets by merely allowing them to speak for themselves. This film struck me as far more contrived, as it not only manipulated people into unpleasant scenarios, but made no effort to construct a proper plot, rather opting to jump inexplicably from one scene to the next. Case in point; the second to last scene of the film ends with Bruno and one of his boy toys calling it quits, as Bruno concludes that he’ll only ever find success as a straight person in America. Then a caption catapults the audience 8 months into the future, where Bruno is now a mullet and bar moustache sporting ring announcer at a southern ultimate fighting event. There’s no explanation of how he got the job, no humorous sequence to explain his make-over. I won’t spoil the film for those among you still eager to view and judge for yourselves, but it’s that final scene that pretty well encapsulates the meaning of the film and its creator’s intentions. The closing features a horrified southern audience being forcefully exposed to a homoerotic display that is only rivaled in actual gay porn. Based on this scene, it is clear that Cohen has no concern for his audience, he has no ambition to inspire critical thought and will take the laughter and attention any way he can get it (wasn’t Marilyn Manson doing that act 15 years ago?). The film struck me as a troubling blend of a Marilyn Manson video and a minstrel show; embracing laughs and audiences where ever they can be found with no regard for the actual message or impact.

I thought Bruno was hilarious. The only reason Borat was a little better was because most people didn't know Sacha Baron Cohen as well as they do now. So, it seemed less staged than Bruno. But overall, an awesome sequel!

Agreed with Sam! I was surrounded by a theatre full of folks who were laughing uncontrollably pretty much throughout the entire movie. The psychic milli vanilli scene is an instant classic.

Bruno is as good and as original as Borat, I feel. Cohen has found a VERY interesting method of highlighting the issues America (and the rest of the world) faces today. Like homophobia, sexism, and racism. Yes the movie is shocking, but the message and heart of the movie is in the right place. Who the hell cares about the guys profits? Just go and enjoy the movie!

Bruno was head and shoulders above Borat.

Cohen upped the ante in every way possible.

No refunds at the movies. You chose to watch the film, end of story.

Otherwise and on the same principle, you should be able to take your wife back to her mother after 3 hours:D

Bruno was only funny in some scenes (like 10%) the other scenes were just rude. i dont know what was more disturbing...bruno making out with another guy or seeing private parts jump around. It honestly was not funny and borat was only a tad funnier then bruno. This man has such potential but he uses it for the most stupid and disgusting things like the past two movies he has done....lets just hope no other of his movies are this stupid!

Ok, let's all set the record straight. "Bruno" was not as good as "Borat," nor will it have the same cultural impact, but it is unfair that people are holding "Bruno" to that standard. "Bruno" was hilarious in its own right. Sacha Baron Cohen's no-hold-barred, envelope-pushing humor sends a straight shot of hilarity into the funnybone, so I don't understand what all the haters are thinking. I've heard mixed reactions from the two crowds I watched it in, mainly because the shock factor grossed them out. It's just for show people. You're guys' reactions are the exact attitudes that he is mocking in "Bruno," you're homophobic, self-centered ways. As for "Bruno's" box-office run, it well soon be boosted, thanks to the controversy of the terrorist leader in the film threatening to sue Cohen. So bitch all you want about the film being "gross" or "messed up." The truth of the matter is you paid to see it, and you're talking about it, and whether you're afraid to admit it or not, you liked it.

I enjoyed Bruno, but it was a disappointment only in the light that it wasn't as smart and well thought out as Borat. The overall flow and pace of Bruno was a little bit sloppier in ways, seemed rushed and abbreviated.

BUT - I laughed my ass off pretty much from start to finish. Bruno had its moments where I could barely breathe and other moments where I was nodding my head in predictability.

Overall, good work Sascha. Especially the Milli Vanilli inspired mimed sex act at the Hollywood Psychic... I need my spleen back I laughed so hard.

a refund shall be demanded for the atrocious finale of "bruno" .
people should indeed know what they are getting into. cheap shots (lots of the suburbian moms with their daughters after a hard day off nyc shopping laughed their asses off in the THEATRE).

Risque scenes (very funny gay stuff)

Your pals in on the farce (elton john, sting, snoop and rest..f it why not, he's just as famous idiots!! Try to enjoy and get your moneys worth for the time in the theatre. you got to go to work the next day!

for me, "bruno" was just as good as "borat". but "bruno" is somehow riskier and braver than "borat". the bottom line is this: you know what you are getting into.

this isn't a movie for children or for thin-skinned people who are sensitive to the topics discussed in the film.

people should be smart, and i don't think anyone should be wanting a refund from this.

and by the way, bruno is one of the best, if not the best, comedy of the year so far. it is truly up there with "the hangover".

I never even thought about it, but maybe homophobia was a contributing factor. Really though I just think SBC hasn't been as relevent since Borat. And now that you mention it, I remember overhearing the clerk at the theatre asking her manager whether or not my AMC card was refundable. What I think it is is that Cohen does touch on alot of things that are kind of touchy subjects and pushes his audience to their limits. But I'm a fan, and I laughed my ass off watching Bruno. The critics are dead wrong- it's every bit as a good as Borat, though it does somewhat lack the initial shock value of Borat. But through and through, I believe Cohen is a marvelous provocateur who provides the shock that our society so desperately needs. He is a man who looks to start an uproar.

This movie was much better than Borat. I was the movie this weekend with my brother, and I would like to comment on the added experience of seeing the movie in the theatre. My brother and I sat right behind a row of 10 or so guys who looked like they just woke up from a a frat party and would not stop making Borat impersonations before the movie began. The best part of Bruno was watching all 10 of these macho bros not laugh once while watching the movie with crossed arms. Sacha is a genius, and his movies while incredibly shocking (I was not expecting to see what I saw in this movie) are amazing social commentaries.

I mean Paula Abduelah! HAhahahaha!!!!

And yes I wanna see Bruno very badly, but Public Enemies should be at the top of peoples lists to see. By the way Peter Travers, I will never get sick of your Transformers bashing, it way too funny for you to stop now. Because I as well hated Transformers very much. Optimus!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bruno was easily the funniest movie I've seen this year, probably funniest movie since Borat.

Bruno will not have the lasting power that Borat did. Borat was a great SATIRE; Bruno was not. Bruno didn't reveal anything about American culture. For example, the scene with the "Gay Converter" was wasted only to set up other scenes. It could of been so much more. Bruno relied almost entirely on shocking-the-hell-out-of-you-humor, while Borat attempted to actually say something.

Bruno appeared to be more staged than Bruno and the unpredictability that Borat had lent to the charm that people could easily identify and get to love on the other hand Bruno seemed forced and far less subtle than his counterpart. Maybe I'm a prude but "Bruno" was over the top.

I was disappointed in Bruno because it had the plot line was almost identical to Borat, and many scenes were obviously stages, a sharp contrast from the unpredictability of Borat.

I think I liked Borat better, probably because having seen that one first, I kinda knew what to expect from Bruno. Still, it was damn funny. My theatrer didn't announce a no refund policy, but they were checking IDs like mad at the ticket booth and the theater doors, much more than I've seen for a movie, ever.

I LOVED BRUNO BETTER THAN BORAT IMO