- Actors: Isla Fisher, Gabourey Sidibe, Rebel Wilson, Mark Strong, Barkhad Abdi
- Director: Louis Leterrier
- Producers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Nira Park, Peter Baynham, Todd Schulman, Ant Hines
- Format: Subtitled, Widescreen
- Language: English
- Subtitles: French, English, Spanish
- Dubbed: French
- Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
- Audio Description: English
- Region: All Regions
- Number of discs: 1
- Rated: R
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Release Date: June 21, 2016
- Digital Copy Expiration Date: December 31, 2019
- Run Time: 83 minutes
Sacha Baron
Cohen’s original three characters from “Da Ali G Show,” and their subsequent
individual theatrical films, were highlighted by their ability to shock in a
way that was simultaneously amusing and intelligently satirical. While his
latest endeavor, The Brothers Grimsby,
certainly lives up to the shock value, it is done for mindless puerile
amusement rather than social commentary. While this may provide a few chuckles
for an evening’s entertainment, The
Brothers Grimsby has more to say about the spy film genre than any
real-world issues. Although there are a few jokes about gun violence which
could be construed as relevant, the silliness overpowers any commentary. On the
other hand, he does use the film to give Donald Trump aids, which should count
for something.
The
ridiculousness of the film’s plot is saved by the fact that even the filmmakers
seem to be mocking the silliness of it. Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong play
brothers separated during childhood, setting each on completely different paths
in life. So, this is essentially Twins
with more action, and ironically less Schwarzenegger. Sebastian (Strong) is a
top MI6 Agent and Nobby (Baron Cohen) is a slovenly soccer hooligan living in
their childhood town of Grimsby.
Orphaned at a young age, the pair was separated when Sebastian was adopted.
Decades later Nobby finally manages to rediscover his brother during a crucial
moment in one of Sebastian’s missions. Nobby becomes entangled and the two
predictably become reunited as they must depend on each other again in order to
survive.
This dynamic, as
predictable as it may be within the buddy cop comedy sub-genre, is effectively
reliant upon the chemistry between the two leads, which works decently enough with
Strong and Baron Cohen. At times their dynamic becomes irrelevant in the many
subplots and detours featuring occasionally awkward cameos and supporting
roles. Penelope Cruz is effortless as a femme fatale actress that becomes
involved, and the same could be said of Rebel Wilson, who plays the only type
of character she ever seems to play as Nobby’s wife. Insert countless self
deprecating fat jokes, this time with a British accent. Baron Cohen’s wife,
Isla Fisher, is also shoehorned into a padded role as Sebastian’s girlfriend
and/or contact at MI6, and Gabourey Sidloyi gives another stilted performance
as an African maid.
As strange as
this may sound, there are certain action sequences within The Brothers Grimsby that work better than a majority of the
comedy. Most of the credit for this is owed to French director, Louis
Leterrier, known for high octane blockbusters such as The Transporter, The
Incredible Hulk and Clash of the
Titans. Some of the earlier sequences are highlighted by some POV photography
that made me wish he had also been the director for the nauseating action film,
Hardcore Henry. The humor is about
what you would expect from Baron Cohen, though his narrative features often
tend to depend too much on sophomoric shock value than cleverness and
wittiness. I suppose it is all about preference.
Exclusive to the
Blu-ray release, along with the high definition presentation of the action
sequences (and some of the grosser moments too), is a featurette called “The
Elephant in the Room.” Those who have seen the film, or even some of the
trailers, this is one of the film’s grossest moments of purposeful shock value.
There are also deleted/extended scenes and a blooper reel included exclusively
on the Blu-ray disc. Also in the extras are a making-of featurette and a series
of alternate lines from some of the film’s funnier improvised moments. Also
included with the Blu-ray is a Digital HD copy.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 4/10
Special Features: 7/10
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