This week at the movies, we've got Austrian audacity (Bruno, starring Sacha Baron Cohen) and graduation gratification (I Love You, Beth Cooper, starring Hayden Panettiereand Paul Rust). What do the critics have to say?
Bruno
Sacha Baron Cohen has become one of cinema's most daring provocateurs -- and astute social critics. Critics say his latest vehicle, Bruno, is at once laugh-out-loud funny, teeth-grittingly awkward, and disarmingly intelligent -- though it's a few notches below his last gonzo doc, Borat. Cohen plays Bruno as a flamboyantly gay Austrian fashionista, with a desire for fame an an aptitude for making people very uncomfortable; like Borat, he also has the ability to get people to say disturbingly revealing things on camera. The pundits say Bruno isn't quite as sharp as its predecessor, but it's still shocking and oddly perceptive. It's also Certified Fresh. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we present a brief history of the mockumentary).
I Love You, Beth Cooper
I Love You, Beth Cooper attempts the same high-wire act as many wild teen comedies -- it promises raunchy laughs, but also tries to say something to say about the teenage condition. Unfortunately, the pundits say Beth Cooper fails on both levels. Paul Rust stars as a high school valedictorian who declares his love for super-popular Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere) during his commencement speech; later that night, she shows up at his house to take him on a whirlwind tour through her world, which results in parties, debauchery, and property destruction. The pundits say this is a tired, joyless affair cribbed from parts of much better, more substantial teen flicks. It's also filled with stereotypical characters and occasionally offensive gags.
Also opening this week in limited release:
- Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg, a documentary about forgotten radio and TV personality Gertrude Berg, is at 94 percent.
- Humpday, an indie comedy about a pair of old buddies who enter a porn contest, is at 89 percent.
- The Mexican import Lake Tahoe, a deadpan comedy about a teenage who crashes the family car, is at 86 percent.
- Soul Power, which documents the concert in connection with the Ali-Foreman "Rumble in th Jungle" and features such legends as James Brown and B.B. King, is at 80 percent.
- The Vanished Empire, about a love triangle among students in Soviet-era Russia, is at 60 percent.
- Blood: The Last Vampire, based on the anime classic about a beautiful half-vampire assassin, is at 25 percent.
Related Items
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| I Love You, Beth Cooper | |
| Soul Power | |
| Humpday | |
| Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg | |
| The Vanished Empire | |
| Lake Tahoe |
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Chris B. writes: on Jul 09 2009 04:44 PM Armond White giving Bruno a rotten review made me realize I should go see it ASAP. Beth Cooper looked like crap from the first time I saw the trailer. (Reply to this) |
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D Effin W writes: on Jul 09 2009 04:49 PM In reply to this comment (#2525027) Hayden didn't though... (Reply to this) |
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De4ective Detectiv3 writes: on Jul 09 2009 04:59 PM I might be in the minority here, but I actually love Sacha Baren Cohen, and I think he is one of the better comedians working today. I can understand why people got sick of him, Borat was like the most quoted movie of '08, but still, that didn't stop Borat from being one of the best comedies to come out in a long time. Not all of us are content to watch Wil Ferrel do his eternal man-child schtick for the umpteenth time. (Reply to this) |
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scifimark writes: on Jul 09 2009 05:07 PM In reply to this comment (#2525033) why would you be in the minority? There a lot of people that like Cohen. Granted his humor is a little terse for some people (Reply to this) |
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IBelievedInHarveyDent writes: on Jul 09 2009 05:20 PM In reply to this comment (#2525033) Dude, Borat came out in '06 how the **** was it the most quoted movie of '08 (Reply to this) |
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ledawg1138 writes: on Jul 09 2009 05:23 PM Sacha Baron Cohen is the Monty Python of today. That's obvouisly a good thing. Madonna has 'v one, Angelina has 'v one, now Bruno has 'v one! They should make a Ali G film. A real Ali G film, the other didn't count. (Reply to this) |
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MovieMaster writes: on Jul 09 2009 05:50 PM Can't wait to see Bruno. Sacha Baron Cohen is hilarious and he is always fun to watch cause you never know what he's going to do next. I Love You Beth Cooper doesn't look good at all so I think I will be skipping that one. Also I'm glad The Hurt Locker is expanding this weekend so now I can finally see it. (Reply to this) |
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Walken The Park writes: on Jul 09 2009 06:01 PM I'm definitely looking forward to "Bruno." As the vehicle for Cohen's third character from his HBO series, I'm sure this movie will deliver all the laughs and not-so-subtle social commentary that did its predecessor. Wassup? (Reply to this) |
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Alejandro P. writes: on Jul 09 2009 06:14 PM SACHA BARON COHEN IS THE BEST COMIC OF ITS GENERATION AND I WOULD BE SURPIRSED IF YOU WERE NOT OFFENDED BY ITS MOVIE BORAT . BUT YOU CAN LEAVE WITH THE LACK OF IMAGINATION OF STILLER AND OF THE BUFFONERY OF FERREL. ANYWAY YOU SHOULD REALLY SEE LAKE TAHOE IT ALREADY OPENED IN MEXICO AND IT IS VERY TOUCHING (ALSO SEE BRUNO OF COURSE) (Reply to this) |
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man in the water writes: on Jul 09 2009 06:30 PM I'm definitely seeing Bruno, if there's one movie that can be anywhere near as hilarious as The Hangover, this looks like it could be the one. I don't know why something's driving me to see Beth Cooper, yes it doesn't look great but I have a slight feeling to see it, maybe at the discount theatre around the corner. And I'll be checking out the indie Humpday, which I've heard great things about. Can't wait for HP6 in a few days, but 2 weeks for IMAX release (Reply to this) |
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R K. writes: on Jul 09 2009 06:37 PM Bruno sucks just like Borat quit wasting millions on making crap and stick to making blockbuster sequels better. Movie like Bruno deterioate the mind and are just wastes of time. (Reply to this) |
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BennyJet writes: on Jul 09 2009 07:07 PM In reply to this comment (#2525027) You know ho I know Bruno is going to suck big time? Little retards like you who are excited to see it. Party on 'tard and hand over your cash to a Jew who like to make penis movies. (Reply to this) |
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BennyJet writes: on Jul 09 2009 07:08 PM In reply to this comment (#2525060) You know how I know Bruno is going to suck big time? Little retards like you who are excited to see it. Party on 'tard and hand over your cash to a Jew who like to make penis movies. (Reply to this) |
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Paints Hz Shirt Red writes: on Jul 09 2009 07:48 PM In reply to this comment (#2525042) the Ali G character was stupid. if people are quick to flame the twins from transformers just imagine how much **** cohen would get from that. cause to me theres no difference. (Reply to this) |
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runmong writes: on Jul 09 2009 07:48 PM In reply to this comment (#2525082) Says the guy who liked Hanna Montana. Classic. (Reply to this) |
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David M. writes: on Jul 09 2009 08:09 PM I'd see "Beth Cooper" if Hayden Panetierre was naked . . . Ali G is stupid and Borat/Bruno are his stupid brothers. Talk about dumb and dumber . . . (Reply to this) |
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Magic is Might writes: on Jul 09 2009 08:57 PM How can you complain about Will Ferrel being a one trick pony when that is all that Sacha Cohen is? He is an unfunny one trick pony, he is a Tom Green ripoff. And to the person who compared him to Monty Python, you need to be taken to the center of a big city and flogged for being a dumbass. Monty Python was funny, they were smart, and they were talented. Cohen is a dumbass, he is not funny and he is not smart. This movie is nothing compared to the genius that was The Hangover. (Reply to this) |
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Will M. writes: on Jul 09 2009 09:20 PM In reply to this comment (#2525132) yet you're talking about him and reading a story related to him. That's all Sacha needs to say his work is done. He's not interested in having you laughing at the fact he's a grown dude acting like a stupid child (Ferrel), he wants to have people thinking and mainly talking about him... to me it's like social comedy, but that's just my opinion anyway (Reply to this) |
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furquis writes: on Jul 09 2009 09:30 PM here's the plan: friend and I get dressed up in 'high fashion', drink 2 martinis each and go to Bruno. I think it's probably the best way to see this film, esp in small town midwest flat state. I never got around to seeing Borat (#45 in my Netflix cue), but Bruno's gotten good reviews by smart people. (Reply to this) |
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R writes: on Jul 09 2009 09:35 PM In reply to this comment (#2525033) I'd imagine people got sick of him because both movies are essentially the same concept, just a different character. (Reply to this) |
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