This is not an earth-shattering movie, but it's well-done, has good comedy, has a decent plot, and a decent message. Parts are a bit predictable, but it's unique enough. There was some mild political commentary, but nothing to detract from the movie. Entertaining and meaningful.
98 Reviews
Political or Not!
misangrelatina6 December 2020
Fun watch
nahuatyuc2924 January 2021
Comedy Of The Year!
Draysan-Jennings24 December 2020
Finally a 2020 comedy that was genuinely funny. I didn't expect this movie to be as good as it was. This film had me busting up laughing. I can't really think of another comedy from this year that was funnier. This film is definitely worth a watch. 7 stars.
Emotional &Full of Life Lessons.
kenzibit23 December 2020
Just a wonderful movie with lots of emotions and lessons. Shows the bond between a dad and his kids, the love that still exist even after death. Wonderful performances and dialogues from the characters and very good directing. Highly recommend this for a father and his children, infact the whole family deserve to watch this 👌🏾
Very predictable
isaacochoterena3 December 2021
This movie is very cliché, taking away the fun.
The movie is not funny, it has a more emotional approach, but this is very predictable, from the beginning we already know how the movie will end, therefore the movie feels very cliché, tedious and cyclical, but there is a decent character development and the film tells us that we should take advantage of the time we have to spend with our family because we do not know when we will see them for the last time. The performances are not the best, there are many conveniences in the story that help it to move forward and for the characters to have a credible relationship.
It is a sentimental film, which uses all the known cliches about the relationships between two people with different personalities, but it can be pleasant for those who have gone through a situation of estrangement from family members.
The movie is not funny, it has a more emotional approach, but this is very predictable, from the beginning we already know how the movie will end, therefore the movie feels very cliché, tedious and cyclical, but there is a decent character development and the film tells us that we should take advantage of the time we have to spend with our family because we do not know when we will see them for the last time. The performances are not the best, there are many conveniences in the story that help it to move forward and for the characters to have a credible relationship.
It is a sentimental film, which uses all the known cliches about the relationships between two people with different personalities, but it can be pleasant for those who have gone through a situation of estrangement from family members.
Wow, what an amazing movie...
paul_haakonsen22 February 2021
I sat down to watch the 2020 movie "Half Brothers" and expecting it to just be a fairly average comedy, maybe in the likes of "Step Brothers" or something like that. So I would be in for an adequate comedy.
But wow, this movie was just amazing. It is without a doubt the best comedy I have seen in a long, long time.
The storyline in the movie is just great, as it is one that has lots of laughs from start to end, but it is also a very wholehearted and very beautiful story at the same time, about two brothers coming together and two brothers coming to terms with their departed father. And then of course there is a goat! Yeah, watch the movie, and you'll know what that is about.
I was so very entertained by the movie from the very beginning and up to the end, and "Half Brothers" is so much more than just a comedy movie. It is definitely a movie that you need to sit down to watch if you enjoy comedies that have a proper storyline and a feelgood heart.
And I must say that there wasn't a single dull moment throughout the course of the entire movie, so thumbs up to writers Ali LeRoi, Jason Shuman and Eduardo Cisneros on that accomplishment. The things that happened to Renato and Asher during the road trip was just hilarious.
Then I have to mention the two lead actors Luis Gerardo Méndez (playing Renato Murguía) and Connor Del Rio (playing Asher Murguía). They were phenomenal in this movie. I loved the chemistry they had on the screen together, they were amazingly funny together. And both of them definitely added a lot of enjoyment to the movie.
This movie totally took me by surprise, and it is a movie that I can warmly and highly recommend that you sit down to watch, if you have the chance. Because this movie is as unique and funny as it is beautiful and touching.
My rating of "Half Brothers" lands on a most well-deserved eight out of ten stars.
But wow, this movie was just amazing. It is without a doubt the best comedy I have seen in a long, long time.
The storyline in the movie is just great, as it is one that has lots of laughs from start to end, but it is also a very wholehearted and very beautiful story at the same time, about two brothers coming together and two brothers coming to terms with their departed father. And then of course there is a goat! Yeah, watch the movie, and you'll know what that is about.
I was so very entertained by the movie from the very beginning and up to the end, and "Half Brothers" is so much more than just a comedy movie. It is definitely a movie that you need to sit down to watch if you enjoy comedies that have a proper storyline and a feelgood heart.
And I must say that there wasn't a single dull moment throughout the course of the entire movie, so thumbs up to writers Ali LeRoi, Jason Shuman and Eduardo Cisneros on that accomplishment. The things that happened to Renato and Asher during the road trip was just hilarious.
Then I have to mention the two lead actors Luis Gerardo Méndez (playing Renato Murguía) and Connor Del Rio (playing Asher Murguía). They were phenomenal in this movie. I loved the chemistry they had on the screen together, they were amazingly funny together. And both of them definitely added a lot of enjoyment to the movie.
This movie totally took me by surprise, and it is a movie that I can warmly and highly recommend that you sit down to watch, if you have the chance. Because this movie is as unique and funny as it is beautiful and touching.
My rating of "Half Brothers" lands on a most well-deserved eight out of ten stars.
"Half Brothers" is half amazing
toweblake26 December 2020
So, I just finished this film last night and I loved the message it was trying to send, half Brothers is a road trip\Bromance movie that sends two brothers on a road trip tracing the path their father took as an immigrant from Mexico to learn about his story and hardships in a new country.
When the Economy crashes Flavio (Juan Pablo Espinosa), flees to America and never returns, leaving his son to grow up without a father. The now grown-up Renato (Luis Gerardo Méndez) gets a call from his dying father's new wife and it brings his rage to the surface, and when he goes to America to say his goodbyes, he instead learns he has a half brother, Asher (Connor Del Rio), and now has to solve his father's riddle to find out the truth behind his life's story.
While the message of the film is beautiful, unfortunately, that message is tarnished by the unbalanced story, while the film is funny, even hilarious at times, it takes away from the main message this film is trying to send. I wish we could have just seen Flavio's (Juan Pablo Espinosa) story I feel like the Two brothers going on a road trip was a creative but worse way of telling their father's story, but even with all of that said I would still recommend this movie to my family and friens who like comedy and Drama. Even though this film does not fully come across as a Drama there are still moments that tug the heartstrings!
When the Economy crashes Flavio (Juan Pablo Espinosa), flees to America and never returns, leaving his son to grow up without a father. The now grown-up Renato (Luis Gerardo Méndez) gets a call from his dying father's new wife and it brings his rage to the surface, and when he goes to America to say his goodbyes, he instead learns he has a half brother, Asher (Connor Del Rio), and now has to solve his father's riddle to find out the truth behind his life's story.
While the message of the film is beautiful, unfortunately, that message is tarnished by the unbalanced story, while the film is funny, even hilarious at times, it takes away from the main message this film is trying to send. I wish we could have just seen Flavio's (Juan Pablo Espinosa) story I feel like the Two brothers going on a road trip was a creative but worse way of telling their father's story, but even with all of that said I would still recommend this movie to my family and friens who like comedy and Drama. Even though this film does not fully come across as a Drama there are still moments that tug the heartstrings!
I really hated this movie.
USAFVet7925 March 2022
If I had Asher as a half brother, I would leave the planet. I didn't find anything funny about this movie. There was an unquiet desperation about the message the writers were trying to make. Asher is the most unfunny unsmart person, ever. I can never get the time I wasted on this movie back. I'd rather watch paint dry.
Surprisingly a wonderful movie
SeerDerek28 December 2020
Missing scenes that would offer answers
miaeli13 June 2021
After watching this movie I'm still sitting with questions on why Renato's dad left his Mexico family to be with the American family that he had a mistaken one night stand with. It's just illogical and doesn't make sense. Not to mention if Renato really hates his half brother it makes no sense for him to rescue him towards the end after leaving him behind. The movie must've cut out a lot of scenes that would've answered these questions. Beside these illogic, Luis Gerardo Méndez really stood out in his title role for this movie, very funny as the guy that hates America. In this movie he comes from Mexico and in real life he comes from Mexico, too. His English accent is charming and whoever casted him for this role picked it well. The other half brother did a good job as well portraying a weird person. I would say about 30 to 35% of this movie was in Spanish so expect to read English subtitles if you can't speak Spanish. The plot is original and kind of interesting as you are led on a journey following riddles left by Renato's dad to find out why he abandoned his Mexico family and stayed in America. The ending was a happy ending, as you can predict. It's a nice, funny movie.
Painfully bad movie to watch
j-brydges-18 August 2022
I tried to take it in but the premise that this was a good try to make a somewhat funny movie about long lost half brother's is so badly done is an understatement. The notion that a successful engineer from Mexico would put up with a half- wit half brother is ludicrous. The only good part of the movie is the ending.
I want that goat!
trish-060273 May 2021
It was fairly funny and somewhat sentimental. I liked it but I really loved the goat that appeared to be so calm throughout. Wonder how many takes that took? It was alright and I didn't get too much political off of this but I don't look for that anyway. I watch movies to be entertained. If I don't like the message, I click it off. Simple enough.
DON'T JUDGE A MOVIE BY ITS COVER
Michael_Arm29 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
When I stumbled across this movie I watched expecting it to be a goofy comedy based on the cover.....even though it was funny it has a storyline that throws you a curveball that you didn't see coming.
Opposites do not appear to attract when these half brothers meet for the first time at the funeral of their father. Renato and Asher are polar opposites in every aspect of life but they share similar feelings about the relationship or lack thereof with their father Flavio. This bond unravels through a series of meticulously planned escapades their father laid out for them prior to his passing so that he could help them to better understand him and the decisions he made. Flavios decisions led to him having 2 entirely different lives the latter of which was something he never intended or sought. Unable to return to his family in Mexico Flavio remains in the U. S. and remarries having another son Asher. Unable to be a father to Asher due to their differences and having left his first son Renato in Mexico both children grow up resenting their father for different reasons.
When you begin to sympathize for the brothers the journey Flavio made for them has all the twists and turns a "comedy" isn't supposed to have. This is a movie about family, understanding, and forgiveness. A great heartfelt flick that doesn't feel as mushy as it should be!
Don't be afraid to give it a watch! And don't expect a goofy comedy starring a goat!
Opposites do not appear to attract when these half brothers meet for the first time at the funeral of their father. Renato and Asher are polar opposites in every aspect of life but they share similar feelings about the relationship or lack thereof with their father Flavio. This bond unravels through a series of meticulously planned escapades their father laid out for them prior to his passing so that he could help them to better understand him and the decisions he made. Flavios decisions led to him having 2 entirely different lives the latter of which was something he never intended or sought. Unable to return to his family in Mexico Flavio remains in the U. S. and remarries having another son Asher. Unable to be a father to Asher due to their differences and having left his first son Renato in Mexico both children grow up resenting their father for different reasons.
When you begin to sympathize for the brothers the journey Flavio made for them has all the twists and turns a "comedy" isn't supposed to have. This is a movie about family, understanding, and forgiveness. A great heartfelt flick that doesn't feel as mushy as it should be!
Don't be afraid to give it a watch! And don't expect a goofy comedy starring a goat!
Goofy story with lots of physical comedy, but entertaining.
TxMike11 April 2021
So the premise is a young boy 25 years earlier in Mexico has a good relationship with his dad, but a weak Peso forces dad to go to the USA to find work. They lose contact over the years, the boy is greatly disappointed in dad, but grows to be a successful but unsympathetic aviation executive.
He gets a call that dad is very sick in Chicago, he reluctantly goes to see dad one last time. There he discovers he has a red-headed half brother who is totally unlike him. Dad is coy, he won't explain what all happened over the 25 years, he has put together a puzzle of sorts, if the two half brothers will go on a road trip and figure out the clues it will all become clear.
So the meat of the movie is the road trip and discoveries they make, including learning to appreciate their family ties. I admit that I enjoyed it most of the time, much of the humor is well done but I would not place it among the movies I would like to re-watch.
On DVD from our public library. My wife skipped, not her kind of movie.
He gets a call that dad is very sick in Chicago, he reluctantly goes to see dad one last time. There he discovers he has a red-headed half brother who is totally unlike him. Dad is coy, he won't explain what all happened over the 25 years, he has put together a puzzle of sorts, if the two half brothers will go on a road trip and figure out the clues it will all become clear.
So the meat of the movie is the road trip and discoveries they make, including learning to appreciate their family ties. I admit that I enjoyed it most of the time, much of the humor is well done but I would not place it among the movies I would like to re-watch.
On DVD from our public library. My wife skipped, not her kind of movie.
Surprisingly Good Movie Marred by Ugly Politics
b5erik13 June 2021
Half Brothers has a lot going for it. There are some genuinely funny scenes, a lot of heart, some fairly well fleshed out characters, and a really compelling story. I was expecting a poorly written, directed, and acted movie based on the DVD info. Instead, I found that it was a solid, entertaining, heartwarming movie with a strong story.
But, Houston, we have a problem.
The movie's political message is told in a ham fisted, ugly way. In Half Brothers, 95% of the Americans are depicted as fat, lazy, spoiled, entitled, ignorant, arrogant, stupid, mean, obnoxious, racist, or any combination thereof. Americans are painted in a VERY negative light in this movie. In Half Brothers it's: Americans = Bad, lazy, obnoxious, arrogant, selish, hostile people, Mexicans = Good, hard working, caring, selfless people. The writers club you over the head with their point of view (over and over again), and it really hurts the movie.
There is no balance.
There are only a couple decent Americans depicted in the movie, and one of them is the Half Brother who is still kind of lazy and a bit of a wacky, scatterbrained loser.
On the other hand, almost every single Mexican character is noble and honorable.
Don't get me wrong, there are, unfortunately, far too many Americans that fit the narrative of the movie, and there are plenty of Mexicans who fit the narrative on that side as well. The point of view or narrative of the movie isn't completely inaccurate. It's just not balanced and has a serious Anti-American slant.
And that takes away from what is otherwise a really, really good movie. Half Brothers could have been a movie worthy of a 7 or 8 rating if not for the ugly, hate filled political slant the writers brought to the table. It's a shame that they couldn't find a way to balance things out a little bit, because they had an interesting story to tell (the story absolutely IS interesting, captivating, even), and they told that story in an entertaining way. They just also threw in some ugly politics that is insulting to a lot of people.
But, Houston, we have a problem.
The movie's political message is told in a ham fisted, ugly way. In Half Brothers, 95% of the Americans are depicted as fat, lazy, spoiled, entitled, ignorant, arrogant, stupid, mean, obnoxious, racist, or any combination thereof. Americans are painted in a VERY negative light in this movie. In Half Brothers it's: Americans = Bad, lazy, obnoxious, arrogant, selish, hostile people, Mexicans = Good, hard working, caring, selfless people. The writers club you over the head with their point of view (over and over again), and it really hurts the movie.
There is no balance.
There are only a couple decent Americans depicted in the movie, and one of them is the Half Brother who is still kind of lazy and a bit of a wacky, scatterbrained loser.
On the other hand, almost every single Mexican character is noble and honorable.
Don't get me wrong, there are, unfortunately, far too many Americans that fit the narrative of the movie, and there are plenty of Mexicans who fit the narrative on that side as well. The point of view or narrative of the movie isn't completely inaccurate. It's just not balanced and has a serious Anti-American slant.
And that takes away from what is otherwise a really, really good movie. Half Brothers could have been a movie worthy of a 7 or 8 rating if not for the ugly, hate filled political slant the writers brought to the table. It's a shame that they couldn't find a way to balance things out a little bit, because they had an interesting story to tell (the story absolutely IS interesting, captivating, even), and they told that story in an entertaining way. They just also threw in some ugly politics that is insulting to a lot of people.
Don't waste your time
canionamanda-5663929 August 2021
What a steamer. Ignoring the ham fisted anti-American slant, its just a dumb story. He couldn't pick up the phone and call his son in 20 years? And Asher is so over the top he dosent even seem like a real person. If i could give it zero stars i would.
Pure emotional greatness
ariglz-8280327 December 2020
An uninspired bromance sitcom!!!
flicklover4 December 2020
These days are slim Pickens for anyone who wants to actually go into a movie theater and watch a film the way it should be seen. Covid has made theaters play old blockbusters, which I think is great but the 1st run films have been at best below average. When I saw the trailer for Half Brothers I knew exactly the type of movie it would be. A road trip story about 2 brothers who can't stand each other come to love each other on a trip to find out what happened to their father. These type of stories have been done before and much better.
The performances are lively but there isn't any real tension and the comedy at best insipres grins and moans ar worst. The film also tries to bang the illegal immigration subject home with showing Americans as ignorant bigots. It's so in your face it's insulting.
A sitcom without the laugh track!!!
A waste!!!
Grade: D
The performances are lively but there isn't any real tension and the comedy at best insipres grins and moans ar worst. The film also tries to bang the illegal immigration subject home with showing Americans as ignorant bigots. It's so in your face it's insulting.
A sitcom without the laugh track!!!
A waste!!!
Grade: D
What a good surprise !!!!!!!!!
amocjc27 December 2020
I don't usually write reviews, but I thought this movie deserved it. I expected a silly comedy, but this film surprised me. I really liked it a lot. Funny, very well done, great soundtrack, emotional and realistic in the right measure (I don't think it's political, but it was important to show the reality around the characters). it brings good lessons and various emotions, but in the end it brings you a good feeling. I haven't seen such an interesting comedy in a long time. This movie is really worth watching.
Watchable Road Trip Comedy
stevendbeard5 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I saw "Half Brothers", starring Luis Gerardo Mendez-Charlie's Angels_2019, Cantinflas; Connor Del Rio-Unfriended:Dark Web, Level Up_tv; Juan Pablo Espinosa-Narcos_tv, El Secretario_tv and Jose Zuniga-Madam Secretary_tv, Mission:Impossible 3.
This is a road trip comedy that has nothing new in it but it is watchable. I guess it's because there isn't much in the way of new releases, which, when you think about it, is sort of a catch 22. No one is going to the movies because there isn't any major releases and the studios aren't releasing major movies because no one is going to the movies-I'm interested in seeing how Wonder Woman does when it hits theaters and is available for streaming on the same day on Christmas day. Anyway, back to this movie. Luis plays the son of Juan and when Juan has to leave Mexico to make money in America to support his family, Luis starts to have anger issues when his father never comes back. After he gets older and has tried to forget his father, Luis hears that his father is dying and Juan wants to see him before he dies. At first Luis resists going but his fiance talks him into it. When he arrives to the hospital, Luis discovers he has an American half brother, Connor. Juan sends his two sons on a scavenger hunt of clues to find out exactly what happened on his way to America-and why he never returned to Mexico. Jose is one of the people along the road trip with information for Luis & Connor. Like I said, it's watchable but lots of things are forced, just to make things funny.
It's rated "PG-13" for violence and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 36 minutes.
It's not one that I would buy on DVD but it would be alright as a rental.
Horrible movie
hookem201010 December 2020
A bilingual journey of familial love in search of understanding.
NestorTheGreat21 January 2023
A father must abandon his family in search of income as the Mexican government collapses once again. A son anandoned by a father he adored and admired left to fend for himself- the main theme of the film.
As a successful adult about to wed, the grown son receives news of his father's imminent passing and must travel urgently to his bedside. Before passing, his father sets him and his other son, half-brother, on a quest to find the Holy Grail...or thereabouts.
As in every journey the long, lost half-brothers will get to know exactly who they are, one gag after the other. The mix of laughs and heart-felt emotional moments caught me by surprise. It could have been dust in my eyes, or tears caused by laughing, but I'll not admit the brotherly bonding touched my tear ducts!
Luckily I watched it with subtitles, whilst listening to the language changes throughout, but can understand if it causes problems for non English or non Spanish speakers. As a bilingual, the jumping from one to the other midsentence felt natural. This is the first film that represents true bilingualism so well.
As a successful adult about to wed, the grown son receives news of his father's imminent passing and must travel urgently to his bedside. Before passing, his father sets him and his other son, half-brother, on a quest to find the Holy Grail...or thereabouts.
As in every journey the long, lost half-brothers will get to know exactly who they are, one gag after the other. The mix of laughs and heart-felt emotional moments caught me by surprise. It could have been dust in my eyes, or tears caused by laughing, but I'll not admit the brotherly bonding touched my tear ducts!
Luckily I watched it with subtitles, whilst listening to the language changes throughout, but can understand if it causes problems for non English or non Spanish speakers. As a bilingual, the jumping from one to the other midsentence felt natural. This is the first film that represents true bilingualism so well.
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