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Bruno Strikes Again - Tricks Southerners and Internationals

by Kevin Powers
July 8, 2008
Source: Charlotte Observer, The Sun

Reports of Sacha Baron Cohen's upcoming follow-up to the 2006 hit Borat, brilliantly titled Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt, surface not unlike sitings of Elvis. Vague reports continue to crop up of a sassy Austrian duping hapless citizens in airports, churches, conventions and more. Ben Affleck and Arnold Schwarzenegger aren't even safe. Bruno and his bedazzled leather duds have struck again, this time in Arkansas and, remarkably, Jerusalem, proving country bumpkins and intellectuals are both equal targets for this comedic mastermind.

Reportedly, back in early June at the Fort Smith Convention Center in Arkansas, a crowd of 1,600+ gathered for "Blue Collar Brawlin" and $1 beers. I suppose the non-disclosure agreements, warning signs of filming and myriad video equipment didn't register to anyone as being slightly odd. We can be grateful for that, because it sounds like a completely ridiculous series of events took place soon thereafter.

"The two men (one of whom supposedly went by the name 'Straight Dave') stripped down to their underwear, kissed and rubbed on each other." The shenanigans approached but did not cross the city's morality laws. It did, however, "set the crowd off lobbing beers." The ruckus apparently took 45 minutes to quell, and the two cage-fighters (presumably one was Cohen) fled through a protected exit. I really hope this makes it into the movie and was, in fact, a Bruno ambush. Of course, Cohen's rep has no comment.

Earlier this week it was also reported that Bruno struck in Jerusalem, hoodwinking an Israeli ex-spy and a Palestinian during a supposed youth-centered interview concerning the conflict between the respective countries. Bruno's summation: "Your conflict is not so bad. Jennifer-Angelina is worse." The comedian sunk his teeth in by confusing the militant group Hammas with the dip hummus (a favorite of Zohan's, by the way). "What's the connection between a political movement and food? Why hummus? Yesterday I threw away my pita bread because it was dripping hummus. And it's too high in carbohydrates."

One of the interviewee's statements is quite telling. "We knew something ludicrous was happening but couldn't quite figure it out." That seems to be the case for most of Sacha Baron Cohen's escapades. Despite international notoriety from Borat, the guy continues to sneak around and, for the most part, successfully pull off his stunts. I can't wait for Bruno to hit theaters next May. And despite these early warnings - coverage that was largely absent from the build-up to Borat - I still think the movie will have tons of surprises and fun in store. I can watch these antics over and over again and still find them hysterical. Is this news spoiling Bruno for you or is it fun to hear reports like this?

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