I saw this movie as I am a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen and his alter egos Ali-G and Borat.
I also understand the point of his characters and how he uses them to show us peoples true feelings and reaction to controversial issues when their guards are down, holding the mirror up to society as he would say, and I find such comedy funny. However, with Bruno I think Sacha has finally gone too far. I don't know if it is because Bruno is the lesser known/popular of his characters so he felt he had to up the ante to get more attention but there is a fine line between being controversially funny and being plain offensive and I'm afraid, with this movie, the line has been crossed and it is overwhelmingly just offensive about the subjects raised.
Clearly some subjects, such as him pretending to be casting for a baby ad campaign to highlight the extremes parents will go to in order to get their baby cast (including agreeing to have a baby lose 10 pounds via liposuction to get the job), highlight misjudged actions and opinions. But pretending to interview Ron Paul and then try and strip in front of him and come on to him, or going to the middle east in a bid to cease the hostilities by singing offensive songs in what is already a hostile situation just crosses the line. Indeed, it shows the misjudged actions of the star than the unwitting people being pranked. Maybe a mirror should be held up to Sacha Baron Cohen himself because, based on this movie, I don't think he'll like what he sees.
I also understand the point of his characters and how he uses them to show us peoples true feelings and reaction to controversial issues when their guards are down, holding the mirror up to society as he would say, and I find such comedy funny. However, with Bruno I think Sacha has finally gone too far. I don't know if it is because Bruno is the lesser known/popular of his characters so he felt he had to up the ante to get more attention but there is a fine line between being controversially funny and being plain offensive and I'm afraid, with this movie, the line has been crossed and it is overwhelmingly just offensive about the subjects raised.
Clearly some subjects, such as him pretending to be casting for a baby ad campaign to highlight the extremes parents will go to in order to get their baby cast (including agreeing to have a baby lose 10 pounds via liposuction to get the job), highlight misjudged actions and opinions. But pretending to interview Ron Paul and then try and strip in front of him and come on to him, or going to the middle east in a bid to cease the hostilities by singing offensive songs in what is already a hostile situation just crosses the line. Indeed, it shows the misjudged actions of the star than the unwitting people being pranked. Maybe a mirror should be held up to Sacha Baron Cohen himself because, based on this movie, I don't think he'll like what he sees.