Rated: MA15+
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller
Written by: Billy Eichner & Nicholas Stoller
Produced by: Judd Apatow p.g.a, Nicolas Stoller p.g.a and Josh Church p.g.a
Executive Produced by: Billy Eichner and Karl Frankenfield
Score: Marc Shaiman
Starring: Billy Eichner, Luke Macfarlane, Guy Branum, Miss Lawrence, Ts Madison, Dot-Marie Jones, Jim Rash, Eve Lindley, Monica Raymund, Guillermo Díaz, Jai Rodriguez and Amanda Bearse.
‘Hey, what’s up?’
It’s a classic Grindr introduction. And all that’s required to hook-up.
But it’s not a relationship.
Bobby (Billy Eichner) doesn’t want a relationship. He’s independent, has his own Podcast and is an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Bobby’s been around, he knows what gays are like: ‘I support them, I don’t trust them.’
Then he meets the super-hot, ‘grown up boy scout’, Aaron (Luke Macfarlane).
He doesn’t want a relationship either.
‘I hear your boring.’
‘Cool.’
They’re getting to know each other.
Directed by Nicholas Stoller (think, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) and Get Him to the Greek (2010)), Bros has the usual romcom formula, including the classic romcom run.
In the Q&A post screening at the Melbourne Premiere, yep, I was there. It was fun. Nicolas explains the decision behind the making of the film, ‘That it be honest, have a happy ending, and be really funny.’
And Bros has all those things.
Worth noting here that the entire cast in Bros is LGBTQ+ – an achievement Eichner noted in the discussion and highlighted how it was difficult for actors to land a role with their sexual orientation stating most gay roles were played by straight actors.
So there’s a genuine focus on the LGBTQ+ community in the film.
The film’s one of the deeper explorations into a gay relationship that I’ve seen, not being gay but being in a gay relationship – or, pretending not to want the relationship, the insecurities. Like it’s just the beginning to know who they’re supposed to be in a relationship.
It gets emotional, exploring topics I hadn’t really thought about before like injecting testosterone to look good and why are you complaining because you like me looking this way?
And there’s a fair bit of gay sex. Not so graphic to be porn, but enough to see the enthusiasm. And the feeling of lying on the warmth of another human’s chest.
I admit I didn’t get all the jokes or jargon. But there were plenty of moments that provoked a good belly laugh, appealing to my dry sense of humour – like Aaron and Bobby having a serious conversation while a guy tries to park his rent-a-bike in the rack, right in between the couple.
The look on the face. It just tickles.
Billy Eichner is great as Bobby: he’s dramatic and funny in his anger and love and emotion. Aaron describes Bobby as getting angry at things is your brand. Which is apt. And it has to be said, Luke Macfarlane as Aaron is hot. I’m sure he appeals to many all over the Kinsey scale.
There’s just a bit too much emotional drama for me, not because it was about a gay couple, it was actually refreshing to explore the different tone and issues to unpack surrounding a same sex couple; I just enjoyed the comedy more than the serious moments.