Bros (2022)

BROS, directed by Nicholas Stoller, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Billy Eichner, is a difficult movie to review. It has some good points, but a lot of the movie doesn’t achieve what it is trying to do. The movie is about two men, Bobby (Eichner) and Aaron (Luke Macfarlane), who have commitment problems and decide to give a relationship a try.

Let me get the negative out of the way first so I can finish on some positives. The biggest problem with BROS is its central relationship. Bobby and Aaron just don’t seem to have much chemistry together and their relationship feels forced. This is a shame because the movie has some potential to be a good romantic comedy.

The narrative arc is also cliched and follows the pattern of every straight romcom ever made. This means that the ending is predictable and not particularly satisfying. Also, rather than presenting an accessible, positive view of gay men, the movie relies on stereotypes for laughs. This might work for some people, but it’s not particularly progressive or enlightening. The humour is often demeaning and infantilising. BROS is played for laughs rather than for any social commentary — although there is some of that occasionally.

On the positive side, the movie does have some funny moments. Eichner and Macfarlane are both talented comic actors and they do their best with the material they have been given. The comedy is occasionally sharp and clever such as the hook-up at the start of the movie facilitated by Grindr and when the staff at the LGBT Museum are discussing bisexuality. There were definitely a few chuckles dotted throughout.

It is essential that we have good movies about queer relationships on screen. And there have been a few such as Moonlight (2016) and Call Me by Your Name (2017). And we do need some fresh romantic comedies that include LGBTQI+ characters and stories. But BROS is not one of them. It’s a missed opportunity.

BROS is a jumbled bag. It has some good points, but it is ultimately let down by its lack of chemistry between the leads, its reliance on stereotypes, and its predictable narrative. If you’re looking for a good romantic gay comedy, you might want to give this one a miss. But if you’re a fan of Eichner or Macfarlane, or if you’re just curious, it might be worth checking out. Just don’t expect too much.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your movie guide for your local show times.)