I am writing this review because there are so many hateful ones, while the ratings are overall good. And, as a person that rated this highly, it seems needed. I don't love most of the actors in this film. The cameos toward the end and the costars aren't my favorites, nor do I dislike them either. I didn't watch Will & Grace and didn't care for Debra Messing's last sitcom. But, this film came together beautifully. It's honest, and even though it's a romantic comedy about the struggles of being gay and having gay relationships, the themes can be appreciated by everyone.
Is there gay sex? Yes. Social commentary that will make the most "liberal" of people squirm a bit? Absolutely. But, come on. Some people aren't in on the joke. Like most straight people didn't have weird sex and sleep around at some point in their life. This overcompensation of acceptance and openness in the gay community is 100% real and it's purpose is the main theme here. As long as LGBTQ is suppressed and "toned down", the louder they get.
Let's not pretend that all LGBTQ people are really "cool" with being out and proud. That's the whole point. As is said, they are not a monolith. The differences played up between the two main love interests are archetypes of exaggerated characters on purpose. Maybe Eichner is this way in real life and this movie is his semi-autobiography about his struggles, but I certainly did NOT take away that all gay men were like this or should be like him. If people didn't get that this is a movie dedicated to all people who are different, I suggest they re-watch his beach monologue, which I very much connected with, despite being straight and female. I think it's more about discrimination in general, than just specifically about all gay people.
I know not all LGBTQ people and allies will necessarily like this movie. My aunt was gay, and I suspect she would be uncomfortable by it. But, she was from Nebraska, enjoyed football, and to her dying day, despite having been married to a woman and divorced, called her girlfriend her "roommate". Let's face it, despite being relatively tolerant of LGBTQ these days, even most liberal people don't "really" want their lives out in the open, even and perhaps even more so, conservative gay people themselves. This is completely understandable, given the history of how they've been treated.
That being said, Bros does serve up some controversial stereotypes, real or not for many gay men. And, it's entirely appropriate as the first gay rom-com, to be very aggressively gay in every way. Many (especially conservatives) will squirm and huff, and I secretly find that funny.
Is there gay sex? Yes. Social commentary that will make the most "liberal" of people squirm a bit? Absolutely. But, come on. Some people aren't in on the joke. Like most straight people didn't have weird sex and sleep around at some point in their life. This overcompensation of acceptance and openness in the gay community is 100% real and it's purpose is the main theme here. As long as LGBTQ is suppressed and "toned down", the louder they get.
Let's not pretend that all LGBTQ people are really "cool" with being out and proud. That's the whole point. As is said, they are not a monolith. The differences played up between the two main love interests are archetypes of exaggerated characters on purpose. Maybe Eichner is this way in real life and this movie is his semi-autobiography about his struggles, but I certainly did NOT take away that all gay men were like this or should be like him. If people didn't get that this is a movie dedicated to all people who are different, I suggest they re-watch his beach monologue, which I very much connected with, despite being straight and female. I think it's more about discrimination in general, than just specifically about all gay people.
I know not all LGBTQ people and allies will necessarily like this movie. My aunt was gay, and I suspect she would be uncomfortable by it. But, she was from Nebraska, enjoyed football, and to her dying day, despite having been married to a woman and divorced, called her girlfriend her "roommate". Let's face it, despite being relatively tolerant of LGBTQ these days, even most liberal people don't "really" want their lives out in the open, even and perhaps even more so, conservative gay people themselves. This is completely understandable, given the history of how they've been treated.
That being said, Bros does serve up some controversial stereotypes, real or not for many gay men. And, it's entirely appropriate as the first gay rom-com, to be very aggressively gay in every way. Many (especially conservatives) will squirm and huff, and I secretly find that funny.