'Bros' film review: Romance in the age of Grindr
Hilarious and bawdy, the Apatow-produced comedy 'Bros' (in theaters Sept. 30) rejects its label as merely a rom-com with same-sex characters - it proudly and unapologetically asserts its gayness.
In short: Museum curator Bobby (Billy Eichner) is seemingly satisfied with his life as the permanent bachelor, until he meets "hot" lawyer Aaron (Luke Macfarlane).
Romantic comedy, as a film genre, is not exactly high art. Their critics deride the genre's simplistic, formulaic template as a means of devaluing rom-coms as a whole, yet studios churn out rom-coms all the time. Netflix alone seems to drop a new clunky, grating rom-com every other week. Major film stars from Tom Hanks to Anne Hathaway to Matthew McConaughey to Jennifer Lopez have starred in their share of romantic comedies. At their core the romantic comedy embraces love and crafts enjoyable little stories borne out of meet cutes and irresistible chemistry. Rom-coms are fundamentally celebrations of love and a major studio like Universal finally backing a same-sex rom-com is a notable turning point for film as a whole, and another progressive step toward mainstreaming same-sex love.
When 'Bros' was first announced, the press releases touted 'Bros' as the first romantic comedy featuring a same-sex couple released by a major studio. Yet 'Bros' is so much more - and co-writers Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller crafted a film that is keenly aware of its significance, while doubling as a funny and heartfelt romance in its own right. Right out of the gates the script upfront states the fundamental flaw in merely wedging in two same-sex characters into the familiar romantic comedy tropes. 'Bros' does not downplay the homosexuality of co-lead characters Bobby (Eichner) or Aaron (Macfarlane) to fit the genre's heteronormative trappings - and the comedy is all the better for its forthright take on modern love for gay men in the age of Grindr.
‘Bros’ is so much more than its raunchy and hilarious jokes. The film totally lives up to audience expectations of an R-rated Apatow-produced flick and Eichner is perfectly cast as the happily unattached bachelor more interested in hookups than relationships. And at times Eichner makes Bobby hard to like - he’s just needlessly combative and at times annoying. But Eichner singularly makes his character totally, painfully empathic in one powerful scene as Bobby recounts how his past informed his current confidence. The totality of Bobby’s past makes all of his actions snap into focus - and the whole scene only works because Eichner nails this one key monologue that justifies his entire character. Yes Eichner is hilarious - but it’s the moments where Bobby articulates the importance of bristling at the label of being “too gay” and rejecting any attempt at gay erasure where ‘Bros’ becomes more than just a “gay rom-com.”
While the 'Billy on the Street' comedian is the most visible draw for this movie, the breakout star here is Luke Macfarlane. And it's even weird to say this is a head-turning role for Macfarlane ... who has literally been the co-lead of numerous Hallmark Channel flicks for nearly a decade. At times 'Bros' revels in its silly and big comedic moments as it skewers hetero normative tropes and gay stereotypes, but Macfarlane's earnest performance really grounds 'Bros.' His turn alone legitimizes the romance of 'Bros.’ So when conflict does bubble up between Bobby and Aaron, Macfarlane's performance makes the heartache and stakes feel earned and authentic. Eichner's comedic timing is reliably razor sharp, but Macfarlane - himself a veteran of many, many romantic films - strengthens the romantic conflict between Bobby and Aaron.
Admittedly, as a whole, 'Bros' is rooted in the post-'Brokeback' world that has made steps in toward embracing the LGBTQ+ community - yet the shadow of casual homophobia and shame still lingers. Eichner and Stoller's script is laugh out loud hilarious - yet, virtually all the jokes an firmly anchored in 2022. It's akin a hilarious MySpace joke in a 2006 rom-com - a joke no matter how hilarious it is in 2006, it quickly tarnishes. Eichner and Stoller mines some big laughs from fundamental aspects of gay life - so it's underwhelming when the script settles for the low-hanging fruit of a joke about 'Glee.'
Final verdict: 'Bros' isn't merely a rom-com with two dudes who fall for each other. This unapologetically gay flick is brave enough to be vulnerable, be hilarious, be sweet and be silly - and still find poignant moments to recognize its place in gay pop culture.
Score: 4/5
'Bros' opens in theaters nationwide Sept. 30. This drama has a runtime of 115 minutes and is rated R for strong sexual content, language throughout and some drug use.
