As someone who is always pleased to see African-Americans depicted in a positive light in films that have nothing to do with drugs, crime, or violence, I was eager to catch "The Brothers". It seemed on the surface to be the male version of "Waiting to Exhale". The story of four Black professional males dealing with the universal problems of intimacy, relationships, and dating made for a unique and refreshing concept. However, compared to other dramas such as "The Best Man" and "Love Jones", this movie seemed to fall flat.
The acting performance of Morris Chestnut is really a standout here. Ever since his breakthrough as Tre in "Boyz in the Hood", he has really proven himself to be a great and capable actor when given the right material. His character, Jackson, seems to be the only one with any dimension at all. It's just sad that he hasn't been able to crossover and achieve the acclaim and attention that his "Boyz" co-star Cuba Gooding, Jr. has been able to do. The rest of the entourage, however, is not quite as impressive. D.L. Hughley, who is one of the funniest performers out there, seemed sedated and unconvincing in his role as the sexually unsatisfied husband longing for more "intimate" contact with his wife (Tamala Jones). When given the right material, Hughley can really shine and the role just didn't seem to suit him. Bill Bellamy, one of the most overrated comedians out there, really is the most disappointing. After watching his performance, I am even more convinced that he is just not capable of acting. I find many of his performances to be over the top, full of buffoonery, and well frankly, just not funny. His character, the obnoxious attorney who has complete contempt for women, could have been played better by someone who is funny but also someone who is able to create believablity and add layer to the character. Shemar Moore of "The Young and the Restless" fame seemed to hold his own with the rest of them, and does a decent job as the executive who is happily expecting to marry the woman whom he finally discovers is "the right one". The rest of the cast does a mediocre job with a script too bland to be memorable.
There are some amusing points here, but overall the film doesn't have many. My recommendation is 5 out of 10.
The acting performance of Morris Chestnut is really a standout here. Ever since his breakthrough as Tre in "Boyz in the Hood", he has really proven himself to be a great and capable actor when given the right material. His character, Jackson, seems to be the only one with any dimension at all. It's just sad that he hasn't been able to crossover and achieve the acclaim and attention that his "Boyz" co-star Cuba Gooding, Jr. has been able to do. The rest of the entourage, however, is not quite as impressive. D.L. Hughley, who is one of the funniest performers out there, seemed sedated and unconvincing in his role as the sexually unsatisfied husband longing for more "intimate" contact with his wife (Tamala Jones). When given the right material, Hughley can really shine and the role just didn't seem to suit him. Bill Bellamy, one of the most overrated comedians out there, really is the most disappointing. After watching his performance, I am even more convinced that he is just not capable of acting. I find many of his performances to be over the top, full of buffoonery, and well frankly, just not funny. His character, the obnoxious attorney who has complete contempt for women, could have been played better by someone who is funny but also someone who is able to create believablity and add layer to the character. Shemar Moore of "The Young and the Restless" fame seemed to hold his own with the rest of them, and does a decent job as the executive who is happily expecting to marry the woman whom he finally discovers is "the right one". The rest of the cast does a mediocre job with a script too bland to be memorable.
There are some amusing points here, but overall the film doesn't have many. My recommendation is 5 out of 10.