HALF BROTHERS

First I just wanna highlight a fun fact about the Director, Luke Greenfield, his mother wrote a letter to Amblin Entertainment when he was 16 years-old, hoping it would reach Steven Spielberg, her son’s idol, asking Spielberg to please watch her son’s two student films to see if he had enough talent to pursue a career as a filmmaker.  She forgot to include a return address, but by some crazy, angel on this kid’s side miracle, Spielberg not only watched the movies, he tracked Luke Greenfield down and sent him a 2 page handwritten note of encouragement.  That’s an auspicious start! 

However, Half Brothers is not a “Greenfield film” as it was conceived and written by Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman.  It stars Renato (Luis Gerardo Méndez, also an Executive Producer)  who lives in Mexico with his fiancée, Pamela (Pia Watson). Pamela has a young son with some emotional problems that Renato doesn’t have the patience to deal with – as under the surface of his successful life as an Aviation Mogul, he’s still traumatized by the fact that his own father Flavio (Juan Pablo Espinosa) abandoned he and his mother when he was about his soon to be stepson’s age.

Not having heard from his absentee padre in many years, he’s not thrilled to get a message from his father’s American wife asking him to come to the States to say goodbye to his dying parent. Yet, Renato’s fiancée convinces him it’s the closure he needs to start their new lives together.  Arriving at the hospital he discovers his father has a second son, Asher (Connor Del Rio) his half-brother.  The two take an immediate dislike of one another, but it’s their father’s dying wish that they take a journey together to discover Eloise.

The backstory involving their father’s journey and reasons for not having returned to Mexico is notable. It speaks to the tensions of the US/Mexico relationship and the dignity of immigrants. In many ways Half Brothers also celebrates and acknowledges the importance of telling stories of all races, not in as grand a manner, but in the perspective of Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians.

At the same time, Half Brothers aims to be a crazy, buddy road trip comedy in the vein of The Hangover or Planes, Trains and Automobiles, with a little taste of Greenbook, it isn’t on the level with any of these movies, but it is far better than Robert Downey Jr and Zack Galifianakis in Due Date. Some of the stupid stunts Asher pulls along their journey rightfully would drive anyone insane and want to make you leave him on the side of the road and never look back. Thankfully, it’s the moments when Renato and Asher start to bond that really brings the film home and makes you warm to the entire adventure.

T&T @largeassmovieblogs rating: 3.5 outta 5