"Half Brothers" Hunt for Family History
Saga of two brothers meeting for the first time is a lighthearted and fun buddy comedy
By Ethan Percival
Saga of two brothers meeting for the first time is a lighthearted and fun buddy comedy
By Ethan Percival
“Half Brothers,” which released on Dec. 4, is a comedy and drama film directed by Luke Greenfield, best known for 2004’s “The Girl Next Door,” and 2014’s “Let’s Be Cops.” You can stream “Half Brothers” on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google, or Vudu.
Coming into the movie, I was expecting a campy, second-rate comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised. “Half Brothers” isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, nor was anyone expecting it to be. However, it is a seriously funny buddy comedy movie, where Renato (Luis Gerardo Mendez), a serious and resolute airline executive in Mexico, learns that his father is very sick and that he has to visit the US to see him. There, he meets his half-brother who he never knew he had, Asher (Connor Del Rio). Their father gives them a treasure hunt of sorts that leads them across the country so that they can learn more about their father’s life in the periods that he was gone in America looking for a job to bring money back to his family in Mexico.
Through its comedic exterior, “Half Brothers” explores serious themes, such as the American immigration system, loss, trauma, and guilt. The journey of Asher and Renato’s father to return to Mexico is well thought out and very engaging for the most part. Asher and Renato are led on a road-trip across the United States by their father, with each destination revealing more information on their father’s story after he left Renato.
Reanto and Asher’s characters aren’t well-fleshed-out, and while we do get some backstory into their childhood relationships with their father, more could be added to improve their characters. Renato’s original reasons for not wanting to take up his father’s adventure is a driving conflict in the story, as he frequently gives up, and it's up to Asher to convince him otherwise. However, this conflict is weak at its core, and his internal struggles with his father seem half-baked.
Renato is also racing across the clock to get back to Mexico to marry his fiancee (Pia Watson), who appears multiple times in the movie, but has almost nothing to add to the story. More important scenes with her in it would increase her actual need to be in the story, besides just a use for race-against-time conflict. She’s also used to help Renato open up to her unique son, and he learns how to become a better father. Many scenes in the movie become too predictable, but the beginning’s early introduction of Asher to the audience makes for a good surprise unless you’ve seen the movie poster or trailer.
On the brighter side, the cinematography in “Half Brothers” was excellent, and there wasn’t a single scene that I wanted to fast forward through. I feel that the ending of “Half Brothers” was well put together and every major plot hole was wrapped up cleanly and neatly, but perhaps a little too fast.
Although some parts of the movie can seem too predictable and some of the conflict in the movie is either a little far-fetched, “Half Brothers” explores important themes and real-world conflicts in our society today, and entertains the audience with an interesting story, piece by piece. “Half Brothers” is good for a laugh, and can definitely be something to brighten your day. It’s a good movie, and I do recommend it.
Coming into the movie, I was expecting a campy, second-rate comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised. “Half Brothers” isn’t a cinematic masterpiece, nor was anyone expecting it to be. However, it is a seriously funny buddy comedy movie, where Renato (Luis Gerardo Mendez), a serious and resolute airline executive in Mexico, learns that his father is very sick and that he has to visit the US to see him. There, he meets his half-brother who he never knew he had, Asher (Connor Del Rio). Their father gives them a treasure hunt of sorts that leads them across the country so that they can learn more about their father’s life in the periods that he was gone in America looking for a job to bring money back to his family in Mexico.
Through its comedic exterior, “Half Brothers” explores serious themes, such as the American immigration system, loss, trauma, and guilt. The journey of Asher and Renato’s father to return to Mexico is well thought out and very engaging for the most part. Asher and Renato are led on a road-trip across the United States by their father, with each destination revealing more information on their father’s story after he left Renato.
Reanto and Asher’s characters aren’t well-fleshed-out, and while we do get some backstory into their childhood relationships with their father, more could be added to improve their characters. Renato’s original reasons for not wanting to take up his father’s adventure is a driving conflict in the story, as he frequently gives up, and it's up to Asher to convince him otherwise. However, this conflict is weak at its core, and his internal struggles with his father seem half-baked.
Renato is also racing across the clock to get back to Mexico to marry his fiancee (Pia Watson), who appears multiple times in the movie, but has almost nothing to add to the story. More important scenes with her in it would increase her actual need to be in the story, besides just a use for race-against-time conflict. She’s also used to help Renato open up to her unique son, and he learns how to become a better father. Many scenes in the movie become too predictable, but the beginning’s early introduction of Asher to the audience makes for a good surprise unless you’ve seen the movie poster or trailer.
On the brighter side, the cinematography in “Half Brothers” was excellent, and there wasn’t a single scene that I wanted to fast forward through. I feel that the ending of “Half Brothers” was well put together and every major plot hole was wrapped up cleanly and neatly, but perhaps a little too fast.
Although some parts of the movie can seem too predictable and some of the conflict in the movie is either a little far-fetched, “Half Brothers” explores important themes and real-world conflicts in our society today, and entertains the audience with an interesting story, piece by piece. “Half Brothers” is good for a laugh, and can definitely be something to brighten your day. It’s a good movie, and I do recommend it.