Brothers review – throwaway madcap comedy wastes a host of stars

The film "Brothers" features a star-studded cast, including Peter Dinklage, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei, and Brendan Fraser, but falls short as a silly Amazon caper about low-level criminals. The Coen brothers are known for giving their characters unique and funny names, but this film's names, such as Moke Munger and Jady, feel forced and over-explained. The story follows Moke and Jady, two brothers who team up for one last job, with Jady just out of prison and Moke feeling guilty for his brother's time served. The brothers' plan is to find missing loot hidden by their criminal mother, with the help of a crooked guard named Farful. Moke wants to provide for his growing family, including his pregnant wife Abby, but their schemes lead to cartoonish and unfunny antics. A smoking ape is involved at one point, adding to the film's absurdity. Despite its aspirations to be a daffy delight, "Brothers" falls short, lacking the consistency and wit of other Coen brothers' films. The film's colorful backstories and narration from Dinklage can't make up for its lack of humor and charm. Overall, "Brothers" is a disappointing road-trip crime comedy that fails to live up to its potential. The film's attempts at humor and quirkiness come across as forced and unoriginal.