Bros – Film Review
Published October 24, 2022
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.
One thing’s for sure when it comes to Nicholas Stoller‘s Bros – it’s an extremely important step forward for LGBTQ+ inclusivity in media. Believe it or not but this film is among one of the first gay comedies released by a major studio to feature an openly LGBTQ+ principal cast.
You’d think that we would’ve had this kind of inclusivity in media by now, but sadly, we haven’t. Bros is a legitimate game-changer in that regard, but as a romantic comedy in general, it’s just kind of okay. I’ve never really been the biggest fan of this genre as is, and that’s not something I can really change about myself after all.
There are some rom-coms that I enjoy considerably and then there are some that just kind of leave me going “meh.” Bros is a funny and entertaining ride for the most part, but I found myself just kind of going along for the ride with the film’s characters instead of being genuinely wrapped up and invested in them.
One of the biggest issues with this film for me was how long it is. It’s an hour and fifty-five minutes long. I don’t have to tell you that that’s long for a rom-com. There were plenty of scenes scattered throughout the film that honestly could’ve been trimmed down or cut out completely and it genuinely wouldn’t have changed anything about the story.
My favorite aspect here, however, would have to be Billy Eichner‘s lead performance as Bobby Lieber, who hosts a podcast called The Eleventh Brick at Stonewall, who prides himself on being single. His character is absolutely hilarious and is the strong point throughout the entire movie.
Watching his character simply have a conversation with somebody was always gold and I couldn’t get enough of him. Sadly, everyone else in the film just kind of felt like normal characters, whereas Eichner’s character was so much fun and exhilarating to watch.
This is a film that will certainly manage to impress and entertain you if you’re a big fan of romantic comedies, but if you’re not the biggest fan of this genre such as myself, you’ll still be able to have a good time with it, but just don’t expect to be falling in love with it.
Funny although a bit by-the-book in terms of its story, Bros is a major step forward for inclusivity in media.