Little Brother is funny, with Eric André stealing every scene and John Cena playing the type of role he was born to play: a meathead straight man. The problem is that this Netflix comedy is a straight rip-off of What About Bob?, only trading professions, adding a few cultural touchstones like reality television and sophomoric slapstick gags, and leaning on André’s willingness to show no shame on screen.
Still, funny is funny, and André’s refreshingly eccentric, chaotic, and just plain weird spin on the odd-couple buddy comedy genre works here. His willingness to look ridiculous while adding genuine warmth to the role shows how much he has grown as a comedic performer. After starring in the hilarious Bad Trip, André once again elevates recycled material with genuine laughs and heart.
That is something Little Brother has in abundance, which is hard to come by nowadays, especially while riding the wave of André and Cena’s abrasive comedic energy.
The story follows Marcus Pinchel (André), who escapes from a psychiatric facility to check on his former “big” brother, whom he believes is in crisis. That brother is Rudd Landy (John Cena), a successful real estate agent standing on the edge of his big break: a starring role on one of television’s most popular reality shows, NYC Hustlers. Of course, Rudd’s message to Marcus is innocuous, hardly warranting a reply, let alone a visit.
It turns out that Marcus may have arrived at the right time. Rudd is married to his beautiful and charitable wife, Deirdre (Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol’s Michelle Monaghan), and they are raising their two teenage sons. However, Rudd is under professional stress, always living in the shadow of his more successful, wealthier older sibling, Josh (Law & Order: SVU’s Christopher Meloni), which is also affecting his home life.
This has led to an intimacy that has quietly faded between him and Deirdre. Something Marcus picks up on immediately. Soon, he has invaded the Landys’ lives, oblivious to professional and personal boundaries. Yet everyone seems to love Marcus, including Rudd’s assistant, Mia (Nobody Wants This’s Sherry Cola), his family, and his friends, despite wearing his clothes, having a threesome in his office, and his love of Hoobastank.
Little Brother is from director Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West), working from a script by scribes Jarrad Paul (Yes Man) and Andrew Mogel (Free Bert). His latest film works because it takes a familiar comic template and successfully combines cringe comedy with empathy. The film’s funniest moments are uncomfortable, but never cruel, despite its sharp tone. Though the story arc is a common cliché, the film needs a predictable.
Still, the heartwarming ending feels necessary if empathy is one of the film’s main themes, and it also gives Cena’s character a redeemable quality. That works well with André, whose behavior makes others uncomfortable, but whose confidence in the most awkward situations strips away shame when it comes to sex, identity, and vulnerability.
Okay, yes, the film is not that deep, but those subjects drive the story, giving Little Brother just enough emotional weight to make its recycled comedy feel unexpectedly sincere. However, the earnestness André brings to the role, the fact that Cena isn’t forced to carry a film comedically, and some big belly laughs make this streaming comedy worth watching, despite the premise being as recycled as they come.
You can stream Little Brother exclusively on Netflix starting June 26th!
Eric Andre is hilarious in the new Netflix streaming comedy Little Brother, even though the premise is as recycled as they come.
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
