BROTHERS
(director: Max Barbakow; screenwriters: Macon Blair, from a story by Etan Cohen; cinematographer: Quyen Tran; editors: Christian Hoffman, Martin Pensa; music: Rupert Gregson-Williams; cast: Josh Brolin (Moke Munger), Peter Dinklage (Jady Munger), Taylour Paige (Abby Munger-Jacobson), M. Emmet Walsh (Judge Farful), Jennifer Landon (Young Cath), Brendan Fraser (Farful), Glenn Close (Cath Munger), Marisa Tomei (cameo, Jady’s prison-correspondence); Runtime: 88; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Josh Brolin, Peter Dinklage, David Ginsberg, Joshua Grode; Prime Video release/Amazon MGM Studios; 2024)
“Its slight plot and lack of character development leave its promising premise unfulfilled.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Max Barbakow (“Palm Springs”) directs and Macon Blair writes the screenplay based on the story by Etan Cohen.
Moke (Josh Brolin) and Jady Munger (Peter Dinklage) are mismatched twins. Jady’s a career criminal who gets off from a burglary charge after working a secret deal with the crooked Judge Farful (M. Emmet Walsh). The deal involves Jady turning over stolen emeralds worth a fortune to James (Brendan Fraser), the judge’s correction officer son. The stash was abandoned a long time ago by Jady’s burglar mom, Cath Munger (Glenn Close), while on the run from the law.
Jady attempts to recruit Moke into the deal, but he’s trying to go straight after partnering with Jady on prior heists whereby he just eluded being arrested.
At the baby shower for Moke’s pregnant wife Abby (Taylour Paige) he’s asked by Jady to use his safe-cracking skills to acquire the emeralds. The brothers go on a road trip to pull off the job, with officer Farful right behind them.
Jady’s intermittent voiceover narration relates the strained relationship between the estranged brothers, as Jady uses manipulative tactics to get his brother to follow him.
The film delivers a kooky comedy, has colorful characters and offers an edgy dialogue. The music of 1970s pop hits adds to the wacky atmosphere. But its slight plot and lack of character development leave its promising premise unfulfilled.
REVIEWED ON 10/18/2024 GRADE: C+
dennisschwartzreviews.com