Most of America and I didn't see Bruno in theaters, but I did the other night. It's definitely a harder sit for the average American than Borat for exactly one reason: it deals with homosexuality rather than foreigners. Foreigners don't make the average American shrink back, but the idea of men kissing can make people squeal in horror. Americans still have no problem believing the various broad stereotypes that make up the fibers of Bruno's being are the real deal, and that's why the movie is more ahead of its time than Borat and as a result, out of step with the mainstream.
Gay activists and organizations that have condemned the movie are responding to their concern that Bruno will only perpetuate the cartoonish gay image locked in the minds of many. I don't think they're entirely wrong. The movie was made, in my mind, to ideally become a dated, irrelevant artifact. The filmmakers want the absurd state of gay perception and gay rights to become a thing of the past, and I applaud that. The commercial issue the movie faces is that guys don't want to be caught by their friends or coworkers holding it in the video store or returning it to the Redbox at the grocery store.
I'm glad I saw it, but I don't have a reason to watch it again. The bit with the Westboro Baptist Church (God Hates Fags) would have been worth watching the thing alone if it weren't for the Ron Paul Turns Into a Serpent Beast scene. Make sure to watch the deleted scenes with Gary Bauer, Tom Ridge, and John Bolton.
Gustaf Hammarsten does excellent work as Bruno's assistant Lutz. He hasn't gotten nearly the notice he deserves for one of the most controlled, "invisible" performances of the year. He is ludicrous without being incredulous.
Sorry to the sentimental, but the LaToya Jackson bit should have been left in the movie. The Blu-ray includes this and other Deleted, Extended, and Alternate Scenes. The Pete Rose bit is great until you realize he isn't actually gonna deck someone.
I played the Enhanced Commentary in the background while I worked on writing this morning. It's an audio commentary with occasional pop-up video bits with Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry Charles explaining how they managed everything. When they get to an extended anecdote, they stop the movie, tell their story, and then "un-pause" things. Rounding things out is an interview with Lloyd Robinson (the agent they duped) that I haven't gotten around to watching yet.
Like Borat before, this is an interesting and provocative film that not everyone will sit through. Bruno is some of the only intricate social commentary in film this year in addition to being among the most relevant.