Student newspapers give ‘Bruno’ poor marks

Love it or hate it, Sacha Baron Cohen’s latest film “Bruno” has drawn a lot of reaction, including that from student newspapers. “Bruno” is about a gay Austrian TV reporter who travels around America looking to become famous and — as a disguised Baron Cohen — makes certain social commentaries. Here’s a quick rundown from a few student papers that have reviewed the movie:

• Daily Nebraskan (University of Nebraska): “Here you have it folks, 2009’s answer to ‘Milk.’…’Brüno’ tries to expose homophobia in the United States, but does so with an onslaught of gay stereotypes. Many of Brüno’s antics are so wild that anyone would be taken aback. He’s much different than your average gay man, who’s probably not going to force you to watch a video of his talking penis.” Read more here.
• Daily Bruin (UCLA): “Gay or straight, no sane individual acts in the manner that Cohen portrays Bruno, allowing the absurdity to speak for people’s deep-seated fears. Cohen brings up every completely irrational fear that some individuals hold about gays.” Read more here.
• The Daily Athenaeum (West Virginia): “Baron Cohen needs to elicit strong reactions, and the easy way to do that with straight men who are poorly acclimated to the gay community is to overtly come onto them …
  But instead of challenging the assumptions those people make about homosexuals, it reinforces them and has the same effect on viewers who don’t have the experience to know any better.” Read more here.

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