Steve Rose reviews Brüno in The Guardian:
"Brüno is funniest, though, when it's at its most politically incorrect, especially when it comes to homosexuality. There's an eye-popping montage of extreme gay sex practices (imaginary, one hopes), a surfeit of waving penises, dildos, fetish gear, anal bleaching, and an excruciating mime in which Brüno fellates the ghost of a deceased member of Milli Vanilli in front of a psychic.
"Much of it is unavoidably hilarious, but is he lampooning homophobia or perpetuating it?
"Either way, he gets away with a great deal simply by being a brilliant physical comedian. That should stand him in good stead."
***
The Guardian editorial:
"Everyone apart from fans of Germanic diacritical marks will find something to deplore in Sacha Baron Cohen's new film Brüno, which is of course exactly what he wants. The title may take a welcome stand on behalf of the umlaut, but the contents – revealed in Britain at last night's premiere – are deliberately puerile and offensive. He pushes jokes about the homophobic reaction to his gay Austrian character to the point where it ceases to be clear who he is really mocking – just as he did with Borat, the crude Kazak, and Ali G, the ethnically bewildered rapper. No one of any sensibility can see one of his films without being appalled as well as amused. He knows that the best humour verges on the horrific. … The point about Cohen is his shamelessness. He targets everyone – in Brüno he strolls through Jerusalem in Hasidic hot pants. Does it add up to a critique of intolerance and absurdity as some claim? Perhaps not. But that isn't his aim. He piles humiliation upon embarrassment, until it becomes unbearable, and very funny."