Netflix's new comedy, "Little Brother," starring Eric André and John Cena, has been met with a largely unenthusiastic reception, with critics pointing to a lack of laughs and an inconsistent execution of its premise. The film, directed by Matt Spicer and written by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, centers on the unlikely pairing of Rudd Landy (Cena), a successful real estate agent, and Marcus Pinchel (André), an escapee from a psychiatric ward.
Unlikely Siblings and Disruptive Chaos
The premise stems from a Big Brothers/Big Sisters mentoring relationship from 1998, where Rudd briefly mentored Marcus. Decades later, Marcus re-enters Rudd's life, disrupting his career and personal relationships at a critical moment. Rudd is on the cusp of starring in a reality show, "NYC Hustlers," and his life is further complicated by his wife Deirdre (Michelle Monaghan), their sons, his brother Josh (Christopher Meloni), and his assistant Mia (Sherry Cola). Marcus, while characterized as an agent of chaos, is also depicted as a sensitive individual who has endured significant hardship. His perceived crush on Mia is presented as a comedic element, though the film suggests Marcus has genuine good intentions.
The narrative aims for a blend of crass humor, reminiscent of the Farrelly Brothers' style, and the established comedic personas of André and Cena. The film draws comparisons to "Ricky Stanicky," "Bad Trip," "The Eric Andre Show," "Step Brothers," and "Role Models." André's performance has been singled out for its "anything-goes approach" and "shameless" quality.
Mixed Execution and Mixed Results
Despite its comedic aspirations, "Little Brother" has been criticized for its uneven pacing and humor. One review noted that while the film contains moments of unexpected fun, particularly a "wacky threesome scene," it ultimately devolves into a "middling-to-lousy gross-out yukfest with a soft, squishy, sentimental center." The concept of a disruptive character who is not a scammer but rather a victim of circumstance is seen as novel, but its execution is deemed inconsistent.
Concerns have also been raised about potentially insensitive humor, such as a "kimchi" joke delivered by Cola, a Chinese actress, in a context that implies a stereotype. The plotting is described as haphazard, and the film relies on formulaic gags and syrupy speeches, ultimately failing to deliver consistent laughs. The film's visual gags include a prosthetic penis and damage to Rudd's Porsche. The film's conclusion suggests a narrative about privileged individuals who use material possessions to fill emotional voids, a theme underscored by the destruction of the expensive car.
The consensus among critics is that the pairing of Cena and André, while promising, resulted in a film burdened by "too much flop sweat, not enough laughs," leading to a "SKIP IT" recommendation.