The Brothers (1947) (NR) ★★

March 23, 2001

Four friends learn lessons in life, love and commitment.

Story

The Brothers examines the tumultuous love lives of four successful, fine-looking guys--Jackson Smith (Morris Chestnut), Brian Palmer (Bill Bellamy), Derrick West (D. L. Hughley) and Terry White (Shemar Moore). When reformed playboy Terry announces he is getting married, it sets a string of consequences in motion. Jackson, afraid of commitment with a capital C, has nightmares of a bride in wedding dress gunning him down. That is, until he falls for Denise (Gabrielle Union), who is keeping a dark secret. Derrick's marriage falls apart when Sheila (Tamala Jones) refuses to meet his demands in the bedroom. Brian, tired of the baggage he feels black women bring, seeks solace in white women in the form of self-defense instructor Jesse (Julie Benz). As they navigate the murky waters of love and commitment they learn a few things about women and themselves, breaking free of their bachelor habits and grabbing an e-ticket to enlightenment.

Acting

While this film is wall-to-wall laden with good-looking, slick-talking bro's who know a few things about playing the ladies, the performances lack the depth and sincerity that might make us care about them. But it's okay--the snappy dialogue makes it entertaining. Chestnut's commitment-phobe is perhaps the standout performance of the film-- but his predictable story line and resolution take away from it. Moore is capable in his role as the reformed playboy contemplating marriage. Bellamy and Hughley provide some very comedic moments with their raunchy banter, but for the most part their efforts are lackluster and border on buffoonery. Most unmemorable is a scene in which Bellamy stands up on a picnic table and recites a poem entitled Bitches. The ''sisters'' get their fair share of screen time as well, with some poignant--albeit silly--moments about about life and love (ie: Jackson's mom sagely tells the ladies a man shows he's in love with you when he gives you the last piece of food on his plate).

Direction

The Brothers in a lightly entertaining, talky film that lacks emotional depth and neatly ties up just before fatigue sets in. Writer/director Gary Hardwick's intentions are honorable in his directorial debut, and moments of truth about life and love occasionally slip out. But for the most part, The Brothers feels like a rehash of comedies like The Best Man and The Wood and we don't learn anything that we already didn't know.

Bottom line

Touted as the male answer to Waiting to Exhale, The Brothers is really nothing but a string of contrivances linked together to form a somewhat entertaining, at times funny movie that is anything but deep or original.