Finally: Billy Eichner's 'Bros' is the romantic comedy we deserve. Here's where to see it
Sometimes a movie feels like you're hanging out with good friends. That's how I felt after watching "Bros."
It's funny, self-aware and steeped in the current moment. It's smart without taking itself too seriously, and it's enthusiastically what it is: an LGBTQ rom-com.
According to Universal Pictures, “Bros” is the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio, and features an entirely LGBTQ principal cast. That's a lot to live up to, and "Bros" sets the bar high for what is hopefully many more to come.
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Bobby (Billy Eichner) is a successful author and podcast host who is planning the opening of the first national LGBTQ history museum. Now in his 40s, Bobby has put his career above everything and is deeply cynical about ever finding love.
That is until he locks eyes with Aaron (Hallmark Channel star Luke Macfarlane) across a crowded bar.
Aaron embodies everything Bobby hates about hook-up culture, and Aaron doesn't do long-term relationships, but they have an instant connection that pushes them both out of their comfort zones.
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Billy Eichner co-writes with Nicholas Stoller
The film is directed by Nicholas Stoller, best known for “Forgetting Sarah Marshall," who co-wrote the film with Eichner, who is now the first openly gay man to write and star in a major studio film.
You may recognize Eichner from “Parks and Recreation" or “American Crime Story," but he's probably best known for "Billy on the Street," an interview-style comedy game show in which he runs around New York City, usually with a celebrity, asking unsuspecting bystanders to answer simple questions in exchange for a dollar.
The series is something of a cult favorite for many reasons, one being people's genuine shock when they're walking to work and suddenly Billy Eichner is running up to them and yelling, "it's Debra Messing you gays!" in their face, and Messing is right there.
Speaking of Messing, she is featured in the film along with Jim Rash, Dot-Marie Jones, Kristin Chenoweth and Bowen Yang.
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To be clear, "Bros" is not simply a romantic comedy. It’s about LGBTQ culture and the gay experience, including parts of it not usually portrayed in mainstream media. But it pokes fun at itself about this, and that's kind of the point.
As a museum curator, Bobby is almost literally living in the past. He’s frustrated by some modern aspects of LGBTQ culture that he feels don’t acknowledge the struggles of the equality movement. This includes his own struggles to build a career, something he has put all his energy into in lieu of searching for meaningful relationships.
On the other hand, Aaron very much lives in the present, and anything long-term or big picture feels uncomfortable for him. These opposing mindsets have prevented both of them from finding love, and they both realize neither of them will be happy if they aren’t willing to compromise.
That’s the moral of the story, that we can and should be somewhere in between. It’s important to remember how we got here, the sacrifices that were made and the people who fought for progress, but it’s also OK to enjoy what's been achieved.
“Bros” is a truly funny, smart and well-written romantic comedy about love in all its forms, and that's something we can all use more of in our lives.
'Bros' 4 stars
Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★
Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★
Director: Nicholas Stoller.
Cast: Billy Eichner, Luke Mcfarlane, Jim Rash, Dot-Marie Jones, Miss Lawrence, Eve Lindley, TS Madison and Monica Raymund.
Rating: R for strong sexual content, language and drug use.
Note: In theaters starting Sept. 30.
Contact the reporter at alexis.potter@azcentral.com or follow the reporter on Twitter @alexispotter_.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Bros' movie review: Will Billy Eichner find love in LGBTQ romcom?
