Barnes & Noble

An unusually promising first effort from writer-director Gary Hardwick, The Brothers deals with personal and professional challenges faced by today’s upwardly mobile African-Americans, but does so with warmth and humor. Hardwick’s protagonists are young urban professionals climbing the ladder of success in the white man's world -- showering themselves with fine clothes, fast cars, and trophy girlfriends both white and black--while disdaining emotional commitments that might slow their ascent. Pediatrician Morris Chestnut, businessman Shamar Moore, lawyer Bill Bellamy, and teacher D. L. Hughley consider themselves "the cream of the crop," and all but married Hughley are fiercely determined to retain bachelor status. That is, until Moore announces his engagement and Chestnut becomes intimately involved with photographer Gabrielle Union. Hardwick’s characters are solidly middle- and upper-middle class in attitude and aspiration, although they seem unable to totally abandon the old ‘hood. The reluctance of successful young black men to commit is depicted as common and understandable, a stance with which some female viewers might disagree. But Hardwick handles the premise with refreshing honesty, making The Brothers far more engaging than most films of this type. He provides a commentary for the DVD, which also includes exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and music videos of songs used on the film’s soundtrack. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

Four successful men find themselves easing into long-term relationships, but they're not all that comfortable about it, in this intelligent comedy-drama. Terry (Shemar Moore), Jackson (Morris Chestnut), Brian (Bill Bellamy), and Derrick (D.L. Hughley) are four close friends who get together once a week to play basketball and compare notes on their problems with women. And as it turns out, they have a lot to say in that area. Terry has just gotten engaged to BeBe (Susan Dalian), who is more than a bit controlling. Jackson has a deep fear of commitment, symbolized by a recurring dream in which he's attacked by women wearing wedding gowns; what's more, he's started seeing Denise (Gabrielle Union), who he learns once had a fling with his dad (Clifton Powell). Brian is a lawyer who has discovered his next court date will see him pleading a case in front of a judge who used to be his girlfriend (Angelle Brooks). And Derrick's marriage to Sheila (Tamala Jones) is falling apart at the seams. The Brothers also features one-time Jeffersons regular Marla Gibbs, and Jennifer Lewis as Jackson's mother, who may be giving his father a second chance after many years apart. Mark Deming

Entertainment Weekly

Digs more vibrantly into issues of trust, fear, pleasure, commitment, and camaraderie than any Hollywood feature in recent memory. Owen Gleiberman

Product Details

• UPC: 043396063945
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby Digital Surround, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Français
• Time: 1:42:00
• Sales Rank: 11,842

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Two Can Play That Game / the Brothers
• Breakin' All the Rules / Brothers

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