Rating: 8.4
Before I say anything else, I have to give credit to Universal for producing this movie! This is a movie that so easily could’ve been dumped on a streaming service, but instead it got a wide theatrical release and I could not be happier for it! It’s the first major studio produced film to feature an all LGBTQ principal cast! So it’s important in that regard (and really it’s about damn time we get a movie like this), but it’s also damn hilarious. It’s one of the first mainstream gay rom-coms, and quite honestly I think it’s one of my favourite that I’ve seen to date!
“Bros” takes elements from classic rom-coms such as “When Harry Met Sally” or “Sleepless in Seattle”, but reuses these tropes in such clever ways that just made me smile and laugh! It’s so wholesome, so enjoyable, and super funny! I genuinely laughed the whole time, it’s so funny and nearly every joke landed perfectly! Eichner is so good at going rapid fire with the comedy with so many zingers and pop culture references, and so many of the jokes are so unpredictable which makes them even funnier! It’s a movie that is so quippy and clever in its jokes but also so heartfelt, sincere and meaningful — Billy Eichner’s script is razor sharp and extremely clever! This script could honestly be nominated for Best Screenplay, it is that good! It’s rare to see a movie about LGBTQ characters and relationships without it being a deep, awards-baiting drama, which makes this movie so refreshing! Heck, it even calls out those kinds of films, as they are mostly stories told and performed by straight people. The movie is never condescending though, and merely is just a very positive rom-com, with the same tones you would get from any other comedy or rom-com! You can very much tell Eichner poured his heart and soul into the script, even flavoring it with some reflections of his own life and his own thinking. I loved his commentary on the importance of LGBTQ history and how it should be taught. Through all the humour and romance this film really did have some deeper meaning, and I am so happy it exists, especially for the LGBTQ community! And don’t get me wrong, this movie is for EVERYONE - as a cisgender straight man, I loved it and couldn’t recommend it enough!
I did want to include this excerpt from Rolling Stone’s review of the film, as I wanted to include so many of the points they make, but couldn’t have said it any better myself. “It’s definitely the most unabashedly gay romantic comedy to be released by a major Hollywood studio (Universal), complete with Grindr quickies, hot male-on-male action (and mishaps), Provincetown montages, erotic roughhousing, sub-subcultural in-jokes, and the politics of dealing with an unwanted, random member of a foursome. It goes out of its way to be 100-percent honest about presenting that world to everybody, regardless of where they land on the Kinsey scale, and regardless of whether that means airing some dirty laundry in the process. And it’s genuinely hilarious precisely because it nails those first two qualities — nothing has been sanded down or shoved into a closet for the benefit of mainstream audiences. Eichner is unafraid to walk a tightrope between representation and irreverence, affection and agitation, when it comes to cracking open gay life in the name of cracking people up. Funny is funny. Humor mined from real life makes you laugh because it feels not just ridiculous but real, however, and that’s what he’s given us.”
Now, I do have to say filmmaking wise, this isn’t anything revolutionary. It is directed well for what it is, but nothing stood out to me from a technical standpoint besides the script and acting (Eichner and Macfarlane are great and have awesome chemistry- everyone else who pops in is really funny). Those were phenomenal, everything else was just plainly good. That won’t detract most of you, as when it comes to comedy most of us don’t expect revolutionary award winning filmmaking from our comedies. That being said… the script could easily be award winning! It's very sincere, heartfelt and sweet. It delivers laughs and people in my audience were going crazy for it - I even laughed out loud. I can’t wait to see this again! The pacing was perfect and everything just seemed to fire on all cylinders - it's an extremely confident movie with character! The movie is just so good, I cannot recommend it enough! I really would love to see more films written by or even starring Billy Eichner! And I am just so happy this movie exists and that it got a major theatrical release - it's a movie we NEED!
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IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
RT Audience Score: 91%
Metacritic Score: 77
CinemaScore: A
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Universal
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
Written by Billy Eichner & Nicholas Stoller
Cast: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Harvey Fierstein, Ts Madison, Guillermo Diaz, Amanda Bearse, Jim Rash, Bowen Yang
Runtime: 1hr 55min
Rating: 14A
Comedy
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Bobby is a neurotic podcast host who's happy to go on Tinder dates and content not to have a serious relationship. That all changes when he meets Aaron, an equally detached lawyer who likes to play the field. Repeatedly drawn to each other, both men begin to show their vulnerable sides as their undeniable attraction turns into something resembling a commitment.
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Fun Fact: Marks the first time Billy Eichner is the lead of a Hollywood film.
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