‘Brothers’ (2024) Prime Video Movie Review - Estranged Twins Plotline Fails to Leave a Mark

In Brothers, Moke and Jady Munger have been troublemakers since childhood, blowing up the bake-sale cashbox for a few dollars. They learned from their mother, a lifelong felon who vanished 30 years ago with stolen emeralds and a dying boyfriend. Now grown up, Moke (Josh Brolin) and Jady (Peter Dinklage) are what you'd expect from a Coen Brothers-style duo: two bumbling criminals with a knack for bad decisions. Five years ago, Jady took the fall for a crime, but thanks to a deal with a crooked cop, Farfel (Brendan Fraser), he’s getting out early. As he returns, he disrupts Moke's newfound stability, which includes a job, a pregnant wife (Taylour Paige), and a house. Life was looking up until Moke got fired for not disclosing his criminal past. Things take a turn when Jady shows up with a "one-last-heist" plan to recover their mother’s stolen emeralds.

Reluctantly, Moke joins his brother on the harebrained scheme. Along the way, they encounter Jady’s potential love interest (Marisa Tomei) and her CGI pet orangutan, who takes a strange liking to Moke. Meanwhile, Farfel, who’s dealing with issues involving his corrupt father, is also after the emeralds, keeping a close eye on Jady. The brothers’ mother, Cath (Glenn Close), eventually resurfaces, leaving everyone to wonder if she genuinely wants to reconcile or if she’s just after the loot.

Brothers assembles an impressive cast but somehow ends up being less than the sum of its parts. Director Barbakow keeps the pacing tight, wrapping things up in a brisk 89 minutes, which is appropriate. However, the writing feels thin and uninspired, relying on a worn-out premise and struggling to deliver consistent laughs. It surprisingly avoids playing up the obvious comedic contrast between the mismatched twins' sizes, but doesn't offer much in its place. While one might interpret a deeper theme about the fine line between sibling rivalry and loyalty, the film doesn't really earn that level of insight.

When it comes to the performances, Peter Dinklage as Jady and Josh Brolin as Moke both deliver commendable work despite the limitations of the script. Dinklage brings his usual sharp wit and charisma to the role, giving Jady an unpredictable, mischievous edge that adds some spark to the otherwise lackluster dialogue. Brolin, on the other hand, plays the more grounded, reserved Moke with a subtle intensity, skillfully portraying a man torn between loyalty to his brother and the desire for a stable life. However, their strong performances can only do so much to elevate a script that struggles to maintain the audience's interest. While Dinklage and Brolin do their best to inject personality and depth into their characters, the flat, uninspired writing doesn't give them much to work with, ultimately leaving their talents underutilized.

All the elements in Brothers have the potential to come together in the right direction, but the film ends up feeling as forgettable as its title. It plays things too safe, with director Barbakow seemingly trying to avoid making it either too edgy or too heartwarming, resulting in a flat and flavorless experience. While the concept and casting seem like a recipe for comedic success, the final product misses the mark entirely.

Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times