'Brothers' Divides Critics

         On October 10, 2024, with a streaming release on October 17, 2024, Amazon MGM Studios released 'Brothers', which has earned a mixed reception from critics, currently holding at 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, "the story of a reformed criminal (Josh Brolin) whose attempt at going straight is derailed when he reunites with his sanity-testing twin brother (Peter Dinklage) on a cross-country road trip for the score of a lifetime. Dodging bullets, the law, and an overbearing mother along the way, they must heal their severed family bond before they end up killing each other." Read the full review round-up below.

       Peter Debruge of Variety says, "With Palm Springs, Barbakow... found fresh wisdom in the overplayed Groundhog Day formula. Brothers also resembles countless films that have come before but lacks the original spin or improv-ready leads that might have set it apart." Adding, "While the entire ensemble comes across fully committed to roles that are well beneath them, it’s not at all clear what the point was in presenting the Moke and Jady characters as twins. Two weeks ago, a different Prime original — that one a tepid thriller called “Killer Heat” — featured identical twins who use their matching looks to switch places. That may be the oldest trick in the book, but it makes more sense than “Brothers,” which does nothing especially unique with the premise." 

Photo by Sebastian Enrique on Unsplash

       Justin Lowe of Hollywood Reporter notes, "Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage play mismatched siblings with heavy jaws in Max Barbakow’s second feature, which finds him trading the subtler comic shadings of Palm Springs for ham-fisted humor, to disappointingly diminishing effect." Continuing, "If their appearances never before suggested a family resemblance, Brothers will now inevitably link Brolin and Dinklage, who find fertile terrain for their less-appreciated comedic talents in the slippery sibling dynamic between the estranged brothers. Close proves to be inspired casting as the underhanded and unrepentant Cath, who shows barely any indication of maternal concern for her sons in a quest to get her hands on the emeralds."

       Leigh Paatsch of Herald Sun writes, "Brolin takes a little longer than usual to hit his stride here – largely as a result of playing so radically against his usual type – but soon rises to the occasion." Concluding, "Without giving too much away, it won’t be too hard to identify where Brothers might have benefited from a leaner, meaner approach. Just take a closer look at any scene involving Brendan Fraser as the corrupt prison officer who wants a cut of Jady and Moke’s next job. Fraser’s continual mugging and shouty line readings undercut the movie time and time again. (It’s almost hard to believe now the same guy won a Best Actor Oscar less than two years ago.) However, when the focus is purely on Dinklage and Brolin, Brothers swiftly snaps back to the shape it should have held all along. Dinklage remains a fascinating actor, always able to establish the essence of a character in a matter of seconds."