I hesitated to watch this film because Lorne Michaels produced it and he's turned SNL into a pathetic political commentary instead of the hilarious show it once was. However, a handful of SNL alumni left Michaels and consistently put out funny movies so I figured why not give this a try. Plus, I have to admit, the casting was pretty decent.
Gillian Jacobs, Bobby Moynihan, and Rachel Harris all have the potential to deliver solid comedic performances if they don't allow themselves to use the platform to express personal views. I was most excited about the additions of Jennie Pierson, and Kumail Nanjiani who both know comedy and are capable of great one liners. Bill Pullman was a unique choice and a pleasant sight. For those of us old enough to remember Space Balls, we know he can add a lot to a funny script.
The premise of the movie instantly reminded me of a mix of Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. I'm willing to bet that I am not the only one who felt this way either. In fact, it seems like a deliberate attempt on the part of Michaels and film executives to ride the coattails of those classics. So, how did they do? As the title of this review says, it really depends on how well you manage your expectations while watching it.
Brother Nature is a cookie cutter comedy that sticks closely to the recipe of the late 90s and early 2000s. That's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I see a lot of films that get categorized as comedies when, in reality, they're anything but funny because they completely ignore some of the key ingredients of humor.
For example, Taran Killam's missteps and blunders are not so vaguely reminiscent of Ben Stiller's performance in the Meet The Parents line of movies. Another more "in your face" example is the character played by Moynihan (Todd Dotchman). Anyone with eyes, ears, and an ounce of common sense can see he really sticks to the comedy template provided by Chris Farley.
The problem is, at least in my opinion, in the latter example Moynihan stuck too close to Farley's recipe for comedic gold and he doesn't have near the talent Farley did to pull it off. In fact, it seems like he was stealing his lines and mannerisms directly from old Farley characters. I almost expected him to gush that brothers don't shake, brothers gotta hug when he met Killam's character. One COULD easily grow annoyed at his barrage of high intensity antics and allow it to ruin the whole movie for them if not managing those expectations.
At the end of the day this movie isn't blazing any new comedic trails and it's probably not going to be a classic on anyone's list, but it's not bad. The cast plays off of one another very well. There's plenty of humorous dialog to keep you entertained providing you don't take things too serious. The one-liners are witty enough and well placed to keep at least a little smile on your face. Yes, a lot of it is recycled SNL material, but watching it allows the viewer a break from all of the garbage going on outside right now. Overall the cast did a good job. Although there should have been more of Nanjiani's trademark low key quips to help even out Moynihan and his antics.
My best advice is to sit back, relax, and give it a fair chance.
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