Do you remember that joke in Dumb and Dumber when Lloyd reveals to Harry that he sold the giant Sheep Dog Van in return for a scooter? Remember how we all thought Harry was going to be pissed off? How we thought that would be the moment that pushed Harry into a murderous rage? But instead what happens?
(spoiler...but if you haven't seen Dumb and Dumber...I unofficially hate you)
Harry congratulates Lloyd on a brilliant swap. When we all first saw that, we laughed. It was pretty funny right? I laugh today at this movie even after having seen it tens of times.
Now, kind reader, imagine a movie where that joke is the ONLY joke to appear in the movie. A movie that recycles that "joy instead of anger" reaction over and over again. Congratulations - you just imagined The Brothers Solomon. What a simple movie. Sure, I laughed when they reproduced that joke the first two times. But when it got to the 12th or 13th use of that setup, I have to draw the line.
Aside from using a rather simple story that any goomba can follow The Brothers Solomon doesn't have much going for it. The two hapless Solomon Brothers, John (Will Arnett) and Dean (Will Forte) decide to grant their father's dying wish of giving him a grandson. Well, to say the least, these two have trouble getting dates - never mind finding mates. The audience watches as John coaches his brother on the art of courting (even though John is clearly as inept as any horny teenager). Eventually, the brothers decide to create a child through artificial insemination à la Janine (Kristen Wiig), the lady to whom they pay $10,000 and annoy with every syllable that ushers forth from their mouths. Unfortunately for the Brothers Solomon, with Janine comes her possessive boyfriend James (Chi McBride). While things go smoothly for the first few months with the brothers baby-proofing their apartment, eventually Janine decides she doesn't want to give up the baby and runs off. Whatever will the brothers do? Find out.
But really...it's not worth finding out. Don't do it.
I thought a movie directed by Bob Odenkirk would be funnier than anything I'd ever seen. Follow my logic:
Mr. Show = hilarious.
Mr. Show = ½ directed and written by Bob Odenkirk.
Brothers Solomon = directed by Bob Odenkirk
Thus if Mr. Show = hilarious,
and Mr. Show = half directed by Bob Odenkirk.
Then Brothers Solomon, which was entirely directed by Bob Odenkirk, should be doubly hilarious right?
Unfortunately, that's where Will Forte's writing comes in. Apparently, Will Forte as the writer cancels out the logic of anything directed by Bob Odenkirk being doubly hilarious. Even Will Arnett, who was hilarious as Gob in Arrested Development and mildly funny in Blades of Glory, can't save Brothers Solomon. His expressions are still as funny as ever. But the material just doesn't work. Will Arnett seems to be making poor career choices since Arrested Development followed its titular prophecy. While Blades of Glory was funny, he also starred in Let's Go To Prison - a phenomenal bomb.
This was a first for me as far as seeing Will Forte in action. His look of unending optimism stays plastered across his face throughout most of the movie - and because of that I have a hard time telling you how well he acted. When you only use one emotion for an entire movie, it's hard to gauge.
Chi McBride, whom you undoubtedly remember from either Boston Public or House M.D., returns alongside his Let's Go To Prison co-star Arnett for another poorly thought out career move. Kristen Wiig supplies the best acting this movie ever deserves to see. She solidly plays a mother-in-waiting whose struggle over selling off the person growing inside her eventually gets the best of her.
Obviously, Bob Odenkirk received a role in the movie he directed. His character is definitely minor, but it reeks of Bob's style. Everything about his performance makes you think he'd rather be back on the stage with David Cross performing wild, gross-out, low brow humor.
The most I'll willingly do in benefit of this movie is to tell you to rent the DVD. But only if you're really bored, a frat boy with a low IQ or have seen every other comedy in the store.
This one's not worth your time...just leave it be.
"The Brothers Solomon" opens September 7, 2007 and is rated R. Comedy. Directed by Bob Odenkirk. Written by Will Forte. Starring Chi McBride, Jenna Fischer, Kristen Wiig, Malin Akerman, Will Arnett, Will Forte.
