Can you feel it in the air? No, it’s not that overwhelming sense of inescapable doom – there’s a great new romantic comedy in theaters near you! Not just any rom-com, it’s really gay. as such (It is recognized that the righteousThe marketing campaign explained, two brothers It Happened: It stars a gay man (Billy Eichner) in a major studio movie about gay people outsiders.
It’s a pretty big deal, and I’m happy to say that two brothers Smash it out of the park. (Sports reference in an article on gay cinema? Indeed, there is something special about it two brothers which distinguishes it from its contemporaries. two brothers It’s a movie that admits to something other people don’t want: us gays can be really annoying.
Before you put together a pitchfork, think about the way we see gay men in movies. We’re often on the sidelines, cheering our best goddess, offering up sarcastic bits of wisdom and shady single-steps that do absolutely nothing to advance our identity, along with some frightening fantasy of the upright woman–or, God forbid,–the male ideal. The gay characters on rom-coms, in particular, are purely friendly stuff. We look cute and adorable, and pretty much designed to sum up the idea of a gay best friend.
Most importantly, when we are given the title role, it is usually tinged with fear and shock. Characters are burdened with thoughts like, “Will the people I love abandon me to go out?” and, “Am I going to be beaten to death for being loving and living authentically?” Don’t get me wrong: These are legitimate concerns. But there comes a point where the gay audience yearns for something more, something richer, and something more cheerful.
in two brothersDirected by veteran comedian Nicholas Stoller and co-written by Stoller and Eichner, protagonist Bobby (Eichner) is 40 years old. And my word is hateful bobby. He’s pretty straight forward, hosts a hugely successful podcast exploring the previously unreported history of LGBTQ, and has also written a series of (less successful) children’s books. Bobby is currently working on opening a totally bizarre museum, the first of its kind. He’s also never been in a relationship, and he is completely okay with. This is a guy who doesn’t seem to make a decision about anything beyond his work, which has resulted in some holes in his personal life.
Nicole Rivelli / Universal Pictures
While other rom-coms are obsessed with making their heroes lovable, two brothers He invests more in making his characters feel realistic. Bobby, like many gays in two brothersMessy, complicated, loud, frustrating, and above all, annoying.
It’s a perfect role for Eichner, whose character is similar to the shows Billy on the street And the difficult characters He is a blatant, intentionally abrasive man. two brothers It takes things a decisive step forward. He’s not just showing some annoying gays – he’s exploring Why We are what we are. And yes, there’s obviously a lot more to being gay than being annoying, but it can be a huge part of who we are. I think this is beautiful, and so is the case two brothers.
Instead of indulging in this fear of angering the public, two brothers He uses this reservation to his advantage. Bobby can be annoying, using his knowledge like a knife, cutting anyone else who doesn’t fit his mind. He also prefers yelling rather than talking, and always needs to be proven right. Bobby spends his nights at the club insulting other gays, who seem to be having more fun than they do now. These traits aren’t exactly a recipe for a likable Person of the Year, but they do come from a place of truth.
Through the loud, know-it-all Bobby, two brothers Explores inner homophobia and the inner turmoil that accompanies being gay. Bobby is dedicated to exposing gay history precisely because society has worked overtime to crack it. You’ll see critics regularly complain that things have “goed too far”, and that the mythical “liberal agenda awakened”. As queer people, we know what this symbol is: we’re too much, and we need to go back to the closet…or otherwise.
The constant realization of being “too much” has manifested itself so deeply within us that for many, the tendency to label it is the only way to deal with it. Combating negativity is embracing and embodying it—to be bigger, bolder, louder, and yes, more annoying than ever. Our current place in society always seems to be at risk, and the only way to ensure our space in the world is to stand out.
Nicole Rivelli / Universal Pictures
saying that, two brothers Not a movie burdened with fear to go out or be killed in order to live authentically. It’s an exceptionally fun movie, in which gays are allowed to be whole people – messy, complicated, even unloved people. And she has a deep understanding of LGBT history – not only in the plot of building the LGBTQ Museum, but also in dealing with its characters, especially Bobby.
two brothers It removes the boxes on which other movies force any strange characters – which is usually a small number in the first place. Showing the full scope of our characters, this movie creates a true and honest portrait of us. This is a movie that makes his point loudly and proudly: We’re here, we’re weird, we’re annoying, and we’re not going to shut up anytime soon.
