Millions of Americans are wrong
Millions of Americans are wrong
And the horror classic getting a prequel series
What to watch
Somewhere along the way Bros got buried by its own narrative. Billy Eichner tried his best to sell people on the movie’s dual reality: It’s a historic gay studio release and it’s a simple, hilarious romantic comedy. That should have cast a wide enough net, but millions of Americans said “no thanks” — and so the movie goes to the bargain bin as a “box office failure.” Millions of Americans can’t be wrong, can they? Yes, they can and they are.
Everything Eichner said in interviews about his movie (that he co-wrote with director Nicholas Stoller) is true. Bros is a riotous, laugh-a-minute Comedy with a capital C — especially in its first hour. It was produced by Judd Apatow and includes the signature pacing, tone, and comedic style of his early films. On laughs alone, it belongs on the shelf next to 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Bridesmaids, and Stoller’s Forgetting Sarah Marshall, not in the metaphorical bargain bin. Eichner’s comedic persona fits beautifully in the form and the movie makes room for some amazing quips and gut-busting verbal sparring, not to mention raunchy physical bits and humorous situational gags. Everything you’d expect is there and more.
The movie is also an homage and at times direct pastiche of the great romantic comedies of the ‘80s and ‘90s — the You’ve Got Mails and the Harry Met Sallys. The familiar, comforting structure is perfectly in tact, but Stoller and Eichner take careful consideration to give both of their romantic leads rich interior lives and specific motivations. You root for them not only to get together, but to become better, more rounded people as well.
And then there’s the richness Billy Eichner nor the marketing told us about. Eichner wanted you to know the movie is a big deal but that it’s also a very funny Judd Apatow comedy, what he didn’t reveal is that Bros directly engages with LGBTQ issues and the othering of gay people. The movie could have just been a rom-com about gay men and not dealt with the realities of being an LGBTQ person in a straight world. Netflix’s Uncoupled is a good version of that. Instead, Eichner and Stoller go for a meta textual narrative about how LGBTQ people are viewed in the world. Eichner delivers a knock-you-back monologue about being othered that isn’t just for show or as a statement, it’s important and central to the story they’re telling.
Millions of Americans fucked up. This is the type of movie that in the past has received awards recognition for screenwriting, but because of this bullshit narrative that formed around it, it likely won’t. The worst possible scenario here is that Hollywood sees the gay side of Bros as what caused it to flop in theaters and/or they put Billy Eichner in movie jail and/or they continue to not take chances on theatrical comedy releases. All of that would be horrible and not reflective of just how good and yes, important this movie is. Hopefully it has a long life on streaming and beyond. Bros is available to rent on digital right now and will eventually hit Peacock, you know what to do.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!
What to know
Peacock orders Friday the 13th prequel series from Bryan Fuller… Sounds like a safe bet (notable IP + horror genre hook) that would have been fairly easy to ignore had it not had Fuller’s name attached! From Pushing Daisies to Hannibal and Star Trek: Discovery, Fuller is always making something interesting, so this is worth keeping an eye on. 🔪
Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick says it’s “a little unfair” Tim Burton gets all the credit for his beloved movie… It’s more than a little unfair! Henry Selick, director of Nightmare Before Christmas, deserves a lot more recognition for directing The Nightmare Before Christmas. Hopefully now you will never forget that Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick directed The Nightmare Before Christmas. 🎃
Justin Long approves Vince Vaughn’s pitch for Dodgeball 2, they just need to get Ben Stiller on board… As much as I’d love to see a Dodgeball sequel, haven’t we been burned enough by sequels to 2000s frat pack comedies? Did the world need Anchorman 2 and Zoolander 2? 🤔
Severance adds Gwendoline Christie, John Noble, Alia Shawkat, Merritt Wever, and Bob Balaban to season 2… How do you make a great show even greater? Adding these five people is a good start. 🧇
Maisel and Everything, Everywhere breakout Stephanie Hsu joins Ryan Gosling in The Fall Guy… Seeing Hsu rise from Off-Broadway’s Be More Chill to literal Hollywood takeover has been so cool. 👏
Lupita N’yongo to star in A Quiet Place: Day One spinoff film… Plus, Pig filmmaker Michael Sarnoski is at the helm. Now, shhhh. 🤫
Ta-Nehisi Coates to host official Black Panther: Wakanda Forever podcast… Podcasts, so hot right now. 🎙
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is Marvel’s Wonder Man… Marvel continues to be very good at casting. 👍
Original E.T. model to auction for as much as $3 million… Listen, if we all pool our money… 👽
Netflix cancels Fate: The Winx Saga after 2 seasons… You could say its end was destined. 🍿