The Return of Bruno

I have seen this and it is great, Bruce is a genius. It kept me laughing all the way through. I absolutely love Bruce Willis and this is one of my favorites. If you have never seen it...I recommend renting or purchasing it and have a laugh riot.

The copy I found is illegal, and somehow still has a VHS tracking line on the bottom. I had to edit it into a video file from a DVD rip..

All because I wanted to understand what this was - an attempt at a Spinal Tap documentary.

I applaud the effort, it's certainly all over the place and I can see where he wanted it to go. It's honestly the cameos that give this so much more weight.

I'm glad I watched it, but I don't know how many other people I know would actually also spend an hour and a half getting lost in this.

It's a vanity project for sure, I'm confused by it but boy I'd have loved to have stumbled on it when it came out.

Mockumentary fans will be in Heaven when they rent the hilarious The Return of Bruno, an HBO special starring Bruce Willis as a rock icon. Decked out in different wigs and costumes, and spliced into footage from Woodstock and The Dick Clark Show, Bruce Willis is shown in the 1960s, '70s, and '80s, as his talent adapted to the changing times and his backup singers changed. Interspersed with the musical entertainment are commentary from musicians of the eras talking about how they knew "Bruno" and how he influenced them. For example, Ringo Starr tells the audience Bruno is responsible for the creation of the Beatles, and Elton John credits him with "Bennie and the Jets." Crosby, Stills, and Nash, The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Joan Baez, The BeeGees, all have stories to share about the imaginary rock star, and Michael J. Fox is also interviewed as Bruno's #1 Fan with a collection of memorabilia.

The last part of the movie uses the album Bruce Willis released, of the same name, as a soundtrack to the live concert. It's extremely fun to watch, and he's got such great energy as a performer! When Dick Clark, the host of the film, wraps the movie up, you'll wish it was far longer than an hour. The next best thing is to watch it all over again! Seriously, folks, this is hilarious, and probably the best mockumentary I've ever watched.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie will not be your friend. Every scene includes either handheld "rock" footage, tilted angles or swirling motions from music videos, or flashing images, and it will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

I'm really proud of the fact that Bruce Willis's musical career was such a flop that he decided to turn his concert video into a self-parodying mockumentary about how he influenced all other pop artists and how he invented Gumby. This video helped give us Hudson Hawk and is therefore worth it in every conceivable way.

This film is everything that Bohemian Rhapsody wishes it was.

Watching this on YouTube really cements the fact that you could show this to teenagers and they would absolutely believe it. It is satire done with such precision that it feels so genuine and it's all because of Bruce Willis' joyous performance.

And let's not forget the cameos from literally everyone who matters in rock music. This is such a hidden gem that has aged so well, as it's dated qualities help it feel more authentic.

It's basically rock Zelig.

Springsteen on Broadway go eat your heart out.

Bruce Will...I mean...BRUNO forever!

Willis plays the title guy, a here-to-fore unknown seminal influence on rock history. Played quiet, with 'interviews' and 'archival footage' of Bruno's brushes with the greats and greatness, it's done quite well. The "documentary" finishes up with a real concert with Bruce backed up by a kick-ass blues band doing various "Bruno" songs and some standards that even wound up being released as a CD (still available as I write this). Their version of "Secret Agent Man" is particularly recommended.