R | 1h 28m | Comedy, Crime, Action | 2024
Considering the caliber of talent involved both in front of and behind the camera, the new crime comedy “Brothers” should have been a whole lot better or, at the very least, average.
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to the far superior “Logan Lucky” from 2017, the movie stars Peter Dinklage (as Jady Munger) and Josh Brolin (as Moke Munger), fraternal twins born under a bad sign. Both are perpetual failures. It doesn’t help that they’re the offspring of the overbearing and under-nurturing Cath (Jennifer Landon, and later Glenn Close), another inept career criminal.
Decades before the story starts, Cath and the boy’s ne’er-do-well father Glenn (Joshua Mikel) stole a cache of rare Koenig emeralds valued at over $4 million. A police chase ensued, Cath was ultimately jailed, Glenn died, and the jewels were never recovered, although Cath hints they can probably be found. The exact location of the jewels isn’t revealed until late in the third act, and it’s admittedly clever. In fact, it’s the only facet of the entire story that’s original and entertaining.
Although it’s only hinted at, the corrupt judge (the late M. Emmet Walsh in his final performance) who presided over Cath’s trial has designs on finding the missing jewels. To that end, the judge charges his prison guard son, Farful (Brendan Fraser), into “leaning on” Moke in order to determine the location.
Hyperbolic Fraser
It’s the worst shake down in the history of shake downs; Farful’s method of extracting intelligence goes far beyond hyperbolic hysteria into thorough histrionic parody. Characters in classic Warner Bros. cartoons aren’t this far over the top. With Fraser’s bulging eyeballs, swelled neck veins, and thunderous bellowing, he robs Farful of any believable menace.
It’s hard to believe Fraser acted in this movie just four months after wrapping production on “The Whale” in a role that landed him a slew of industry accolades including his sole Academy Award.
Marisa Tomei is another Oscar winner who makes an extended cameo appearance as Bethesda Waingro, a hippy-chick, Mother Earth type who might have information on the jewels through her relationship with Moke. Farful shows up on Bethesda’s doorstep looking to intimidate her, but turns tail and runs away in terror after catching a glimpse of an orangutan, Bethesda’s emotional support animal.
‘Hillbilly Elegy 2?’ Not hardly
For eight-time Oscar nominee Close, the role of Cath isn’t all that far removed from her Academy Award nomination role as Grandmother Vance in “Hillbilly Elegy” (2020). Thanks to pounds of make-up and assorted wigs, Close looks much younger than her 77 years would otherwise indicate. It would’ve been so easy for Close to go over the top here, but she never does.As for Dinklage, who also co-produced with Brolin and two others, he does nothing here we haven’t already seen before in much better movies. He does “grunge” well, but doesn’t do himself any favors by sticking full time with his trademark clipped baritone.
It is baffling that this screenplay was penned by Macon Blair, the writer and director of “The Toxic Avenger” (2023), which also starred Dinklage. Although Blair didn’t write or direct “Brothers,” he played the lead in the highly underrated and vastly overlooked 2013 thriller “Blue Ruin.”
Negative Stereotypes
A native Virginian, Blair is certainly knowledgeable regarding Southern lifestyles, yet chooses to pack the story with heaps of negative regional stereotypes. Although the setting is never established, the movie was filmed entirely in Atlanta, and it features some of biggest eyesore locations that area has to offer. Visually, the movie is just plain ugly.It’s likely Blair had little to no say in scouting locations or set designs. Those decisions would be under the providence of director Max Barbakow.
It’s No ‘Twins’
It’s clear the filmmakers were shooting for the same kind of light-hearted vibe found in the similarly themed 1988 comedy “Twins” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito. They never get close.The movie also contains shades of “Legend” from 2015, where Tom Hardy pulled double duty as real-life twin British gangsters Ron and Reggie Kray, yet minus anything resembling nuance or style.
“Brothers” is a complete waste of time and. With the possible exception of “God & Country,” a documentary produced by Rob Reiner, it’s the worst movie of 2024.
