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Remember "Waiting to Exhale", in which Whitney Houston and three friends agonized over the imperfection of men, all the while endlessly analysing their love-starved lives? Well, "The Brothers" may as well be called "Refusing to Exhale" for it concerns a group of men, less than happy with their love-lives, who turn their days into one long conversation about women, clinging to an adolescence they are reluctant let go of.
Successful, late-20s, African-Americans, are prompted towards soul-searching by the announcement that one of their mates, Terry (Shemar Moore), has become engaged. How can a serial skirt-chaser have transformed himself? Is he for real? Can they do likewise? Derrick (D L Hughley) is jammed in a sexually frustrating marriage and lawyer Brian (Bill Bellamy), the real infant of the group, retreats from his fear of commitment by insisting on sex and nothing more. Meanwhile, Jackson (Morris Chestnut) is set on a course of self-destruction despite having found his perfect girl.
The key characters, unravelled right down to their tiny details, present the juiciest of parts to actors who survive the film well. Morris Chestnut, a charismatic actor, also enjoys the busiest role and best exemplifies the tug-of-war emotions of a man turning 30. The four fellows, when not in scenes that are enlivened by conversation (and there quite a few of those) all but drown in talk, talk, talk. They even rattle on at a party when surrounded by eager, pneumatic babes.
Director Gary Hardwick, although keen for us to observe how articulate and analytical these clever professionals are, would have made a much better film had he let us spot their limiting childishness.
"The Brothers" is released in UK cinemas on 28th September 2001.
