The mere existence of Bros shouldn’t be exceptional, however it’s. When you can imagine it, that is the very first romcom starring brazenly homosexual individuals to be launched theatrically by a mainstream studio. That it’s taken so lengthy is infuriating — however is Bros a film worthy of that milestone? The reply is sure, completely, after which some.
To be clear, this isn’t a cookie-cutter romance story, merely swapping out a straight couple for a homosexual one. As Billy Eichner’s main man Bobby states within the opening couple of minutes, the sentiment “love is love” isn’t fairly proper: homosexual relationships are completely different, homosexual friendships are completely different, homosexual intercourse is completely different. And although it nonetheless manages to serve up sweeping, standard romcom moments, Bros displays that inherent distinction all through. There’s no meet-cute, as such — the 2 major characters do lock eyes throughout the room, nevertheless it’s a neon-soaked nightclub full of shirtless homosexual males. An enormous love scene is much less in regards to the tender handholding we’ve seen so usually earlier than, and extra about intimacy by means of pushing the boundaries of physicality, and redefining roles within the bed room. Even the inevitable bumps within the highway of the core relationship are particular to the homosexual and queer expertise, weaving in themes of internalised homophobia, societal narratives about what homosexual masculinity appears to be like like, and combating to be your self in a world that tells you to be something however.
Bros is a longtime ardour mission of comic (and co-writer right here) Eichner, and he’s a supremely charming main man. Clever, witty and self-deprecating, he’s considerably breathlessly verbose to start with, barely taking a second to let scenes sink in — however as Bros progresses and Bobby’s vulnerabilities proceed to be uncovered, Eichner excels. His efficiency within the extra critical moments — particularly throughout one significantly highly effective monologue on a seaside — is delicate and heartfelt, whereas by no means shedding the sense of humour that makes Bobby (and Bros) so good.
The humour is rarely hampered by its dedication to inclusivity, however heightened by it.
Eichner is matched fantastically by Luke Macfarlane’s devastatingly good-looking Aaron, a will executor and non-committal group-sex-haver who appears to be like to have it created from the surface, however is struggling a disaster of confidence beneath. Aaron and Bobby’s ups and downs are deftly written, each capable of convey out the perfect and worst in one another, the way in which solely these you might have the deepest reference to can, and their chemistry is tangible. Macfarlane has a heat and sincerity that makes Aaron empathetic even in his darkest moments; he’s the right foil for Eichner’s spikier, self-aware exterior. Most significantly, they’re two splendidly complicated, totally fleshed-out homosexual characters — no two-dimensional tropes in sight.
So, we all know Bros has received the ‘rom’ half down — however what in regards to the ‘com’? With Eichner on co-writing responsibility, it’s no shock that this movie is humorous. What may shock you is simply how relentlessly humorous it’s. The joke-rate is continuous within the first act, starting from snappy one-liners to ingenious sight gags and incisive commentary on trendy courting tradition; the humour is rarely hampered by its dedication to inclusivity, however heightened by it. As Aaron and Bobby get nearer and time begins to cross extra shortly, the center part of the movie lags ever so barely, however Eichner and director/co-writer Nicholas Stoller proceed to hit you with extremely amusing set-pieces — a tense dinner scene amidst singing waiters, an sudden interplay with a particular visitor star, and an ill-fated try at polyamory, to call a number of.
These set-pieces are ably delivered by its majority LGBTQ+ solid, showcased most prominently by means of Bobby’s good friend group and colleagues on the new museum he’s working to launch. This setting is a great approach to infuse Bros with instructional components, and the will to tell individuals about queer historical past is an integral a part of Bobby’s character. The movie doesn’t beat you over the top with these things, however invitations you into an area to listen to about it. The goosebump-inducing montage of LGBTQ+ pioneers from many years previous, and reminder that this can be a group that has been silenced and worn out constantly all through historical past, makes the presence of this film on the large display all of the extra poignant, the illustration all of the extra satisfying, and the emotional arcs of the principle characters all of the extra impactful. It took Hollywood over a century to convey us a movie like Bros — let’s not wait so lengthy for the subsequent one.
