Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller’s long-awaited Bros is finally out in theaters. A progressive LGBTQ+ love story with a predominantly LGBTQ+ cast could send waves through the movie industry, especially with Hollywood giant Judd Apatow producing. Will Bros live up to heavy expectations?
What’s it about?
Bobby (Billy Eichner) is an author and popular podcast host focusing on LGBTQ+ history and representation. His advocacy in this space lands him a position as curator for the National LGBTQ+ History Museum, which will be the first LGBTQ+ museum in the country.
Bobby is popular and successful but is portraying a façade of happiness. He is 40 years old, single, and tired of Grindr hookups. His life centers around his work, but he is surrounded by friends who are all in loving relationships. He secretly wants that but has a hard time committing romantically.
Bobby goes to a gay bar with his friend Henry (Guy Branum) and meets Aaron (Luke Macfarlane), a handsome and extremely ripped man who seems to counter the stereotype. Aaron approaches Bobby, and Bobby works up the courage to engage in banter. But Aaron is elusive and keeps disappearing in and out of the crowd. Bobby finally gives up, but Aaron gets Bobby’s number from Henry the next day.
Aaron calls Bobby, and the two begin getting to know each other. Bobby and Aaron are opposites in many ways, yet each is intrigued by the idea of the other. Bobby now must balance the stresses of dating a man he doesn’t fully understand while also focusing on fundraising and opening the National Museum. Is Aaron too much of a distraction, or could this finally be the one for Bobby?
My Reaction
Bros follow the typical story beats of most romantic comedies. You have a successful lead actor who is terrible at dating, an exciting but flawed love interest, the supportive friend side characters, and every other genre staple. With some exceptions, this type of story is often regulated straight to streaming unless the film grabs a-list actors for one or both leads. Bros is missing the conventional star power that you may expect from a movie like this, but that is more so due to opportunities for LGBTQ+ actors in unabashedly queer roles. The film even pokes fun at this, calling out Hollywood’s casting of straight actors for queer roles receiving critical acclaim.
The movie boldly presents LGBTQ+ history, an exposé on Grindr hook-up culture, and gender-fluid safe spaces.
But Bros doesn’t need star power, as the novelty of centering LGBTQ+ relationships in film should be enough to pique interest from moviegoers. Bros isn’t afraid to lift the veil on aspects of LGBTQ+ culture for cis-hetero audiences. The movie boldly presents LGBTQ+ history, an exposé on Grindr hook-up culture, and gender-fluid safe spaces. These cultural aspects help to distinguish Bros from traditional Rom-Coms.
Still, when you whittle away some of the cultural aspects of the film, it follows your typical romantic comedy arc. Romantic comedies are character-driven pieces, and investment in the love interest is vital. This is where Bros stumbles. Billy Eichner is given a lot of dialogue in this film, and sometimes his acting is hindered by his need to blurt lines out as fast as possible. Although he is mostly successful, there are times when the speed and delivery of his lines are a bit distracting.
Luke Macfarlane’s performance doesn’t resonate at all. I’m unsure if it is due to character development, Stoller’s direction, Macfarlane’s approach, or a combination of all three. Whatever the reason, Macfarlane’s Aaron came off as a very dull guy. Outside of physical attraction, you don’t understand why Bobby is interested at all. This could have been a death blow for the movie, as an uninteresting love interest makes for a bland romantic comedy.
And yet, Bros still shines because of the development along the margins. The best scenes are in the National LGBTQ+ museum boardroom, where Bobby debates and argues the museum’s strategy with a funny and eclectic cast of board members. You get to see Billy Eichner at his snappy, sarcastic best, and others like Dot-Marie Jones, Miss Lawrence, and Ts Madison stealing moments right and left. You almost wish that the film wasn’t a Rom-Com at all, but about this ensemble navigating issues with donors, politics, and each other as they try to open the museum.
Overall Reaction
Bros is a groundbreaking romantic comedy where the romantic relationship is the least exciting thing in the movie. Although Eichner stumbles here and there, he is chiefly captivating and heartfelt. You feel the sincerity and vulnerability that he shares with Macfarlane’s Aaron, despite the humdrumness of the Aaron character.
Although the romantic relationship doesn’t work, everything else does, especially the interactions between Eichner and the rest of the supporting ensemble. The whole film feels purposeful and authentic, without fear of presenting the lives of homosexual men that may make some audiences uncomfortable.
And it is funny too.
Hopefully, Bros opens the door for similar LGBTQ+ projects focusing on love. I wouldn’t be mad if we received a “Museum” spin-off as well.
