Bruno is coming out this weekend and is expected to make $30 million in its opening weekend. I would suggest you stay home and rent a good classic comedy that's actually funny and not full of cheap laughs at other people’s expense.You’ll probably have a much better time if you do. You’ll also save $10 on the price of popcorn too.
Sadly there haven't been very many Christian comedies made, outside of Veggietales at least. But if you're not in the mood for talking carrots, I suggest watching something like The Princess Bride or What About Bob. One of my favorite Christian funny movies of all time is the Thief in the Night series. Of course it wasn't meant to be a comedy, but it was made in the early 1970's and it is so cheesy and outdated that I and my roommates laughed ourselves silly watching it in college. I don't mean to be disrespectful though because the story does have a good message. It's similar to the Left Behind series and in my opinion is actually better. It's just so dated that watching the actors with the muttin chops, I can't help but laugh.
Below is my non-review of Bruno from an earlier article.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s new film Bruno is set to come out in theaters July 10th. Some gay groups are already concerned that the film negatively stereotypes them. Time is supposed to write an extensive article about the societal implications of the movie. Whatever Time or any other mainstream media outlet writes about the movie, they will miss the real issue that should concern everyone, especially Christians.
Let me first say that this is not a movie review, as I have not and will not see the movie. It may seem unfair to talk about a movie without seeing it, but I want to talk about the societal impact this movie and others like it are having on Christians. I know that coming from this perspective will earn me lots of negative comments, however, I am Baltimore’s Christian Conservative Examiner, so keep that in mind as you read on.
Let me state the obvious. I am sure that this movie will offend many people of all different backgrounds, just as many found Cohen’s previous film Borat offensive. Brad Luna, a spokesman for Human Rights Campaign, says the movie should come with a disclaimer that the movie is intended to expose homophobia. I don’t think this movie is trying to expose or do anything, other than shock. Cohen has become the shock jock of film. His last movie was so offensive because it harshly took advantage of people’s innocence. This time it appears that Cohen is out to be as flamingly gay as possible, and again, I think there is no message in this portrayal.
Hollywood has gone beyond just sending all the wrong messages to our society and the youth of the world. It is now just spewing out chaos. Studios have no problem putting anything out as long as it makes money—whether it’s twisted, offensive, backwards or anything else. Most studios have absolutely no morals, other than money. Don’t worry, many studios will still put out movies filled with elitist, left wing, propaganda, that many people in that community believe in. At the same time, Hollywood will also occasionally hold their noses at traditional values and put out the odd Christian or family values film if they think it will really make them money.
It wasn’t too long ago that stupid movies started coming out. What I mean is, films that were not necessarily offensive but just plain stupid in their type of humor. You didn’t have to think to enjoy the film’s stupidity. You might think, what’s wrong with that? Originally, nothing it seems. I enjoyed quite a few of these films such as the ones that Chris Farley starred in like Tommyboy. The problem was that this was just one step into removing our thought process when watching movies.
The next level was offensively stupid movies. Will Ferrell often stars in these kinds of films. The movies have stupid humor that is outlandishly ridiculous and also somehow funny. But this type of movie also has some stuff that many people would find offensive, especially if it wasn’t mixed into a comedy. Taladega Nights was a good example of this. The main character was a racecar driver named Ricky Bobby. Besides the many idiotic things Ricky Bobby would do, he constantly referred to “baby Jesus” and in a very offensive manor. Even Christians would dismiss this kind of offense, because it was disguised in humor.
Now we have films like Bruno that are likely to just be filled with offensiveness. But it will be wrapped in humor to help it go down with a laugh instead of a gasp. What kind of movie will be next? If you don’t see the pattern, just think about homosexuality in television. Ellen’s prime time comedy show got a lot of flack for the first gay kiss on television and pushing the edge. Not long after that, Will & Grace became extremely popular with a main gay character and constant gay story lines. Many Christians loved this show. After that, Hollywood took it to the next level with the extremely offensive, The L word.
Sadly many Christians will watch Bruno and probably not see anything wrong with it. But every Christian has a duty to watch what they take in as it will affect them in ways they can’t even comprehend. There’s an old saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” It’s true. When you watch a movie, there are always obvious and subtle messages, even if the message is chaos. Portraying a false reality is one way movies lie to us. For example, a film may show there are no consequences to someone having sex before marriage, but in reality we know there are consequences. We must be careful what we watch because often, we don’t even realize how film and television affect our views on any number of things. The more you see something, the more normal you consider it. You may not overnight accept the premise of a film, but if you see a certain reality portrayed many times, you might eventually start to accept it.
We may say to ourselves, I know right from wrong and I can watch whatever I want and still hold my values. That may be true to some extent, but almost everyone will be affected in the long run. Not only that, but when you allow yourself to watch things that not only don’t honor God, but are downright anti-God, you do a disservice to other Christians and non Christians, by sending mixed messages about what you believe is ok or even good. You also may cause others to stumble by sending the message that these kinds of things are safe to watch, and thus encourage others who are less strong in their understanding of what is right to watch these kinds of films.
The decision is yours, but choose wisely. We all have the power to influence and we know that with power comes responsibility.
Comments
It's funny, I missed the part in the Bible where it says "Thou shalt not watcheth Sacha Baron Cohen's movies".
First dumb movies like Tommy Boy, then semi-offensive Will Ferrell flicks, now this.
What's next, changing money right in the middle of the temple.
See ya at the Bruno premier tomorrow.
Sorry, I'm going to go see it anyway. Ron Paul is in it.
@Jeff. The Bible doesn't specifically mentioned child porn on the internet, but I think it safe to say that God frowns on it. The Bible does not address other modern day situations or inventions, but we can draw conclusions based upon what is already in the Bible. This isn't rocket science, Jeff.
OMG Larry you are so like the Sex in the City girls. I am christian and I am going to see Bruno because it's going to be hilarious. Also I am Christian and have no problems if gays want to get married. Let them make their own choices.
I highly doubt God cares if I watch Bruno or not. He has a lot of other things to worry about these days. Geez, get your priorities straight. You have nothing better to do than right an article about a movie? Don't we have soldiers dying all over the world, children starving in Africa, North Korea testing nuclear missiles. Heaven forbid someone makes a movie with dirty jokes.
Gez in wit ze times Larry, God vas sooooo two thouzand years ago!
Well, we know this will be "offensive" somehow to people, but you cannot take this as a serious blow to society. You take this as an anti-Christ kind of thing. Cohen is smart, he found something he obviously enjoys and can make tons of money off of. People love this kind of comedy, even if it offends others. As long as it is not demonizing a minority, like say...Hitler's propaganda films...and the left-wing media demonizing McCain-Palin...Then it should be looked as a "laughing with you not at you" kind of movie.
reading these comments just proves the point,America has gone from being a Christian Nation founded on religious principles to a "it's all about me and what I think is right" nation.Hopefully God will return before it gets really ugly.
"Sadly many Christians will watch Bruno and probably not see anything wrong with it."
That's because there IS nothing wrong with it...
Cohen's film is an attack against prop 8 passing homophobia.
There's only one legitimate place I've found to watch it, the rest seem like scams :-/ You can see it over here though: vostuu.com/watch28015.html
They make you do a little survey but after that it's good to go :)
How is Bruno even related to christianity? I find it offensive when religious people make every issue somehow connected to their religion. Its just plain annoying!!!!!
No song, story, nor film I've ever heard, read, or watched has ever rocked my personal relationship with Jesus.
"Garbage in, garbage out?"
...maybe for those who are weak and stubborn enough to actually take & apply a movie's premise to their own personal moral code. The rest of us normal-thinking 99% of people are perfectly safe to watch anything we may find entertaining.
Lighten up. My mind can't even begin to comprehend God nor His intentions, and neither can yours. But we can all agree that He's got a sense of humor.
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A Christian conservative examiner? What a ridiculous job description, if I do say so myself. Any person who's job description fits this title should never be in the position to critique a controversial film, or any other form of art for that matter. But, I digress.
You suggest in your article that for a film, or probably anything for that matter, to be decent it has to have "Christian/family values". Out off all the best films I saw, or all the best albums I heard, or all the best books I read, none of them had these "moral values" that you speak of. Actual non-trite creation should never have to fit such a silly and childish mold. Art cannot be judged by this flimsy traditional pretense that you so admire and yearn for.
I find Cohen's brand of comedy certainly controversial; but for me there is no denying its genuine comedic originality and appeal. To summarize, it is cutting edge (thankfully so, might I add).
You additionally argue that many films these days are elitist, left-wing and void of your definition of "morality". Like many Christians, you have to come off of your high horse and see things realistically. This code of conduct that you expect things to adhere to is just plain silly and irrelevant in the world that we love in today.
Finally, I have to return to several of the remarks that you made toward the end, because they amuse me so. You go as far as to say that films and television that show such things as premarital sex with no consequences are dangerous. What is the consequence? God's anger? I am laughing as I type. Furthermore, you say that Christians that encounter things that don't honor God are basically doing a disservice to the world. It's naive remarks like that that really anger me. I am a proud Atheist and I don't even want the mere mention of "God" in my life. Hopefully, fundamentalist religious nitwits such as yourself are gone one day. I'll pray for it, haha.
Hey, crazy dumb guy who didn't even check out the movie: The movie is anti-gay, ok. Ann Coulter could leave laughing. It's offensive - and so are you, apparently . . . although I got bored too much before I could finish reading your post. Get a life, man. What did I ever do to you because god made me gay?
Having never seen anything by this writer / actor previously I unassumingly went with a non-Christian friend. Given that this non-Christian friend had agreed to attend an Alpha course the following week I persisted as long as possible. Ultimately, I said to my friend - "sorry, I just can't watch any more" - and walked out. Of his own volition he then joined me an apologised for how obviously offensive it was.
I've walked out of movies before. This was the worst film I've ever walked out of.
Christians - if you go and see this and don't feel the Holy Spirit screaming at you to leave - I'd question whether you were actually saved.
you're a ridiculous human being, obsessed with Christianity (which is utterly absurd), and I think YOU are funnier than any of the films you suggested. Instead of skipping Bruno and renting films, those of you with an ounce of intelligence and self worth should just laugh at Christians and their ridiculous theories! It's free, and they're everywhere!
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