Netflix always has a new movie to add to its catalog. In the summer, a lighthearted comedy to pass the time and escape the sweltering heat sounds very appealing—especially when it features stars like John Cena (The Peacemaker) and Eric André (Ironheart). So this week brings Little Brother, the new film from Matt Spicer (Ingrid Goes West), written by Andrew Mogel and Jarrad Paul (Say Yes). It’s a lighthearted comedy about brotherhood—in case the title doesn’t make that clear—and it comes with no grand pretensions beyond entertaining us for a little over an hour and a half. The question is whether it achieves its goal, exceeds it, or falls short.
A Premise That Smells a Bit Stale
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at the plot of Little Brother. The movie centers on Rudd (John Cena), a guy who’s built a dream life: a beautiful family, a thriving business… The only catch is that he’s always felt a bit of envy toward his older brother. Then there’s Marcus, a man who was “taken under Rudd’s wing” as a younger brother decades ago and is about to reenter his life. Of course, Marcus is a force of chaos who turns everything he touches upside down—though he has a heart of gold.
Essentially, Little Brother plays on the idea of introducing an element of disruption into what appears to be a peaceful setting. However, as we delve deeper into Rudd’s life, we see that behind the facade there are many cracks that threaten to bring everything crashing down—even before Marcus arrives. Little Brother has a functional, if unoriginal, story. Adam Sandler, for example, made this “disruptive force” trope his own in movies like Mr. Deeds, Trash Golf, and The Angry Executive. Eric André plays a character who’s impossible to hate, even if he can be quite annoying at times.
Lukewarm chemistry, but it gets the job done
John Cena doesn’t make the most of his comedic side in this film, as Little Brother forces him to take on the serious role of the character whose perfect world is crumbling. Still, the WWE veteran has some funny moments, like his first steps on a TV show. Eric André plays it safe. He has plenty of experience in comedy and is in his element bringing the charming—albeit quirky—Marcus to life. As I mentioned earlier, he can be a bit annoying at times, since the comedic moments end up becoming so over-the-top that they eventually lose their appeal.
As a duo, they don’t quite click. You can tell they’re both trying hard to create that connection and rapport on screen, but it doesn’t quite come together. As a result, when it comes to Hermanito’s emotional moment, the scenes don’t quite feel complete. It could be a problem with pacing or editing, but I get the impression it stems from that inability to forge the connection between two actors that allows their on-screen chemistry to truly shine. For some, it comes naturally—like George Clooney and Brad Pitt—but in this case, it doesn’t quite work.
The cast also includes Michelle Monaghan as Rudd’s wife, Deirdre. It’s a supporting role but a crucial one for moving the plot forward; the Mission: Impossible actress more than delivers. Christopher Meloni plays Rudd’s older brother, Josh, a very entertaining presence in the scenes where he appears. Rudd and Deirdre’s sons, Cory (Bryce Gheisar) and Shane (Pilot Bunch), are the most boring things you could possibly imagine, making their appearances feel rather awkward. They’re very dry, even when they’re trying not to be.
Entertaining, but forgettable
Unfortunately, the story of Little Brother is like that of so many movies that land on Netflix: it’ll keep you entertained for a while, but by next week you might not even remember what it was about. It isn’t particularly funny, though it has a couple of scenes that might elicit a small smile. Its tender moment works, even if the two leads don’t quite click. It’s completely predictable. After watching just a few comedies like this, you’ll practically know the script by heart. If you’re looking for something new, this isn’t the movie for you, but it’ll do the trick if you just need a little time to unwind.
It’s possibly a comedy that would have worked better if it had been aimed at a more family-friendly audience, but by filling it with profanity and risqué moments, it targets an audience that demands more than just a few jokes and over-the-top performances. Anyway, to cut a long story short: Little Brother isn’t a total disaster, but it’s far from being a good movie. To escape the heat without getting bored to death, this Netflix film starring John Cena and Eric André gets the job done.