Brothers is a Hollywood action-comedy film directed by Max Burbakov and released on Amazon Prime Video on October 17, 2024. It stars Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage as brothers, with Glenn Close, Brendan Fraser, and Taylor Paige in supporting roles. At just 1 hour and 29 minutes long, the movie promises to be a fun mix of heist thrills, family drama, and comedy. But, except for one or two scenes, the movie feels a bit lacking. To find out why, read this review!
What is the story?
The story of Brothers revolves around Mok Munger (Josh Brolin). Mok is a former criminal who is now trying to live a normal life with his wife, Abby (Taylor Paige). But his older brother, Jadie (Peter Dinklage), a temperamental ex-con, suddenly makes a re-entry. Jadie's plan? One last heist to steal millions in green gems! He convinces Mok to do it, and the two embark on a crazy ride.
They are pursued on this journey by a hard-nosed police officer, Farful (Brendan Fraser). Moreover, their mother, Kath (Glenn Close), a scheming mastermind, digs into their past and adds twists to the story. Car chases, explosions, a strange orangutan scene—the movie has it all! But, given the sibling rivalry, rags-to-riches drama, and family ties, the story is a bit ordinary and predictable.
How was the acting?
Josh Brolin did a great job as Mok. His cool, slightly serious style is the strength of the film. But, the script doesn't give him much scope. On the other hand, Peter Dinklage as Zadie is a show stealer! His energy, one-liners, and slightly crazy acting bring the film to life. The brotherly chemistry between the two is good, but it feels a bit forced in some scenes.
Glenn Close is charming on screen when she appears as the mother, but it's disappointing that she doesn't say much about her character. Brendan Fraser is farfetched, but his role feels a bit over-the-top. Taylor Paige appears in a small role as Abby, but she doesn't have much scope. The rest of the supporting cast, especially M. Emmett Walsh in a small cameo, adds some fun.
Direction, Technical Talk
Max Burbakov has previously given cool movies like Palm Springs, but that magic is missing in Brothers. The movie tries to be a fun comedy on one hand, and a serious family drama on the other, but it doesn’t quite pull it off. Despite the fast paced 89-minute runtime, the lack of depth in the story and the lack of proper character development are clearly visible.
The cinematography is good, especially in the action sequences and road-trip scenes. However, the editing feels confusing in places. The soundtrack feels okay for the movie, but there are no memorable tunes. The action scenes—car chases, shootouts, a weird orangutan explosion scene—are okay to watch, but nothing feels new.
Pluses and Minuses
Pluses:
The chemistry between Brolin and Dinklage is great.
Some funny scenes, especially Dinklage's dialogues.
Short runtime, easy to watch.
Cons:
A simple story with nothing new.
A mix of comedy and drama.
Some characters (especially the female characters) are not well written.
Final Talk
Brothers (2024) is a fun time-pass movie, worth watching for Brolin and Dinklage's performances. However, it will be a disappointment for those looking for a deeper story or new humor. It's okay for a relaxing evening, but it's not a great Hollywood movie. Those who like heist comedies can give it a try!
Rating: 2.5/5