Mixed Emotions Over Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno

Mixed Emotions Over Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno

"Brüno," a movie that, in mercilessly exploiting the discomfort created when straight men are ambushed by aggressive gayness, happens to (surprise!) expose homophobia. Gay groups are reacting with deeply mixed emotions, heightened by the recent triumphs (Iowa) and losses (California) in efforts to legalize gay marriage. Is the film then vulgar, inappropriate and harmful? Or bold, timely and necessary? All of the above?

Ultimately the tension surrounding "Brüno" boils down to the worry that certain viewers won't understand that the joke is on them and will leave the multiplex with their homophobia validated.

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