Saturday, December 3, 2022

Bros

Movie Name:
Bros
Year of Release: 2022
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guy Branum, Miss Lawrence, TS Madison, Dot-Marie Jones, Jim Rash, Eve Lindley, Monica Raymund, Guillermo Diaz, Jai Rodriguez, Amanda Bearse, Debra Messing, Peter Kim, Justin Covington, Symone, Ryan Faucett, Harvey Fierstein, Bowen Yang, Kenan Thompson, Amy Schumer, Becca Blackwell, Ben Stiller, Jamyl Dobson
Genre: Comedy
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
Watch it on Amazon Prime

Synopsis and Review
Director Nicholas Stoller is back, following the double release of "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" and "Storks", both of which came out in 2016. This time around he's working with Billy Eichner, who is the lead actor, but also co-writer and producer of the film. The narrative focuses on Bobby Lieber, who is a single gay man living in New York, currently a host for a successful podcast, but who has also just accepted a position as a museum curator for an upcoming LGBTQ+ History Museum in Manhattan. While partying with a friend at a gay club, he is drawn to Aaron, and the feeling is soon reciprocated. While there is indeed a flirtation, there's also a mix of weird signals between the both of them. They eventually start spending some time together, though they both have reservations about where the relationship is headed. As they progressively get to know each other better, they also soon establish the things they're comfortable in doing as a couple. When Aaron's parents visit, Bobby schedules a series of activities for them, but overwhelms the family, eventually sparking a huge fight with Aaron, which results in a breakup. As Bobby assesses what has happened, he also has to come to terms with work colleagues he has also alienated, while he slowly tries to move on and date other people. Aaron in the meantime also changes his life, quitting his job, and starting to pursue his dream as a chocolatier. At the premiere of the LGBTQ+ History Museum, Bobby realizes how much he misses Aaron and texts him.
"Bros" in many ways, is identical to many romantic comedies that have come before, with the biggest difference being the fact that the central couple is comprised of two lovely men. The film squarely positions these characters in the current ruthless dating world, monopolized by dating apps, where good photos mean everything and feelings are completely trampled. In one of the scenes, there's a brief view of Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail", and in many ways some faint traces of that type of romantic comedy exists here as well. The problem however lies in the characters' definition. Bobby gets the lion share of screen time, and for all his noise and cries for attention, it's difficult to truly understand who this person actually is and wants. While his family is briefly mentioned, the same going for his past, all of this is quickly brushed aside, being replaced by his interminable chatter. This is somewhat surprising, considering he's a man in his 40s, who it would seem has not had a serious relationship prior to Aaron showing up. Aaron in the meantime, is succinctly defined as the handsome guy (with enough shirtless screen time to prove it), who doesn't want anything serious relationship wise, is focused on a specific type of man he wants to date and his ambition is to be a chocolatier. And that is somewhat of a slim definition for a romantic interest. The script from Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller pokes fun at the gay world's obsessions with men's body types, the superficiality of the relationships that are established, and also at the inclusiveness momentum that seems to be going around (but only to a certain extent). However and for all its intelligence and relevance, it under-nourishes the characters themselves, failing to give both Bobby and Aaron some nuance and balance, the same going for the supporting characters, who end up having little to do (the hilarious Guy Branum and Jim Rash are reduced to very brief participations, the same going for Bowen Yang for instance). There's much to enjoy, with some good laughs included, but in trying to build up so much, fails to humanize its central characters, reducing all the other ones to rough stereotypes. Watchable, but not memorable. 

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