From the ferocious comic mind of Billy Eichner and the comedic brilliance of filmmakers Nick Stroller (Neighbors franchise, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck), BROS is a smart, swoony, and heartfelt comedy about two gay men and how hard it is to find another tolerable human being to go through life with.
For in-depth thoughts on Bros, please see my colleague Brandon Lewis’ review from its TIFF debut here.
Video Quality
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment brings Bros to Blu-Ray with a vibrant 1080p video presentation. The image is clean with the vivid color palette of the natural environment popping off the screen. The film utilizes some strong lighting choices in a few scenes which makes for a very sumptuous image. There are also some very pleasing hues within the clothing and production design. The presentation provides a significant amount of depth on display both out in the world and in the interior spaces. The details of each location present as impressively sharp in all lighting conditions.
The film has a natural aesthetic which translates well on disc. Black levels are appropriately deep and inky, but digital noise does prove to be a fleeting issue in a handful of moments in the film. The flesh tones are natural with gentle nuances showcased well in close-ups and medium shots. This is as enjoyable of a presentation as any modern movie should provide on Blu-Ray. Universal has delivered great work here.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that is pretty impressive without being overbearing. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without ever falling victim to overlapping voices or environmental noises. Everything is mixed precisely with directionality accurately rendered across the surround sound channels. The sounds of gathering crowds provide a good amount of activity in the rear channels, and music adds texture in the low end. The score from Marc Shaiman does a nice job of setting a tone for the narrative which fills the room in an enveloping way. Universal has done exactly what they needed to with this disc. There are optional English SDH, Spanish and French subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Deleted Scenes: There are seven unused scenes totaling 14 provided here including an alternate first date, Bobby on a different date, a showdown at Pride and more that is worth a look.
- Gag Reel: A four-minute collection of flubbed lines, laughing fits, spilled drinks and more.
- Representation Matters: A five-minute featurette which discusses the lack of media from major studios showcasing gay relationships in a meaningful way.
- From Start To Finish: A 13-minute look at the journey of this movie to the screen from conception to the final product. This is one of the more meaty supplements on the disc which is worth seeking out.
- Introducing Bobby and Aaron: A six-minute look at the main relationship in the film and the qualities that each character brings to the narrative.
- The Cast and The Cameos: A nearly nine-minute piece which gives a broad overview of the LGBTQIA+ ensemble gathered to populate this world.
- The Art Of The Rom-Com with Billy and Nick: A four-minute look at the romantic comedy part of the equation within this film and how this team wanted to approach this classic genre.
- The Bros National LGBTQIA+ History Museum: A six-minute exploration of the museum that is featured and created for the film.
- The Making Of A Deleted Scene: Two brief making-of featurettes totaling six minutes are provided here to show how these scenes came together.
Final Thoughts
Bros is a hilarious time which brings a very specific point of view to the rom-com genre that is not easily accepted by or created for the mainstream. There is evidence of this in the box office performance for this one, but financials alone do not paint a picture for the quality of the feature. Billy Eichner delivers what you have come to expect from his boisterous personality, but he wisely surrounds himself with an array of likewise talented figures who will hopefully get their own time to shine in the near future. If you give this one a shot with an open mind, you are more than likely going to have a great time. Universal Picture Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports fantastic A/V presentation and a few good special features. Be sure to pick this one up and judge for yourself. Recommended
Bros is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.