NEW YORK – In 2018, Hollywood gave us “Love, Simon,” which was both a coming-of-age tale and a gay romantic comedy. Now, director and co-writer Nicholas Stoller has abandoned the former genre and transferred the latter to a middle-aged milieu with “Bros” (Universal) in which his script collaborator, comic Billy Eichner, stars.
The result is not a congenial one for those committed to traditional values.
Eichner plays podcaster and museum curator Bobby Lieber. As early scenes establish, Bobby is more interested in satisfying his urges via casual sex than in building a relationship. That changes, however, after he meets soft-spoken estate lawyer Aaron (Luke Macfarlane).
As the two tack and jibe, some of the screenplay’s humor works. Thus, Bobby’s excessive militancy is mined for laughs, as too is the squabbling among those with varied bedroom preferences.
But the spectacle of Bobby engaging in utterly debased encounters is depressing. His trademark abrasiveness, moreover, eventually becomes irksome.
Given prevailing social mores, it’s perhaps inevitable that the film, while implicitly endorsing the value of emotional connection over mere lust quenching, fails to take an ethically balanced approach to the lifestyle it portrays. No line is, accordingly, drawn between sympathy for those persecuted in the past and an all-out celebration of contemporary behavior at odds with Christian morality.
Look for: Characters evolving in certain respects.
Look out for: A benign view of homosexual acts, explicit scenes of aberrant activity, drug use, a blasphemous remark, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, numerous milder oaths, pervasive rough and crude language and an obscene gesture.
The Catholic Moviegoer’s guidance is U – unsuitable for all. The Motion Picture Association rating is R – restricted; under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
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