Bros Movie Review & Ratings – A New Era in Rom-Coms

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 Bros Movie Review & Ratings – A New Era in Rom-Coms

Release Date: September 30, 2022 (USA) 
Genre: Romantic Comedy, LGBTQ+
Director: Nicholas Stoller 
Writer/Star: Billy Eichner 
Runtime: 1h 55m (approx) 
Language: English
Studio/Distributor: Universal Pictures 

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Introduction

Bros arrives as one of the rare mainstream romantic comedies from a major studio centering on two gay men as the leads. That in itself makes it notable. The film is built around Billy Eichner’s comedic sensibilities and his writing, with the goal of both celebrating and poking fun at gay culture, while still operating inside the rom-com genre. It’s funny, at times sharp, and at times a little uneven—but it’s worth discussing for how it pushes new territory.

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The Story (without major spoilers)

Eichner plays Bobby Leiber, a loud, opinionated gay New Yorker who hosts a queer history podcast and is about to launch a national LGBTQ+ history museum. He spends much of his life convinced he’s fine being alone, but when he meets Aaron Kaplan (played by Luke Macfarlane), a handsome, more traditionally attractive guy, things change. Aaron lives a life that seems simpler, less anguished—and after some mis-steps Bobby realises he might want more.

The film moves through dates, break-ups, sex, self-reflection, and the awkwardness of modern gay dating—complete with Grindr references, hook-up culture jabs, but also emotional yearning. In many ways it follows the classic rom-com structure: meet-cute (sort of), miscommunication, conflict, eventual growth. But it also layers in gay-specific concerns: representation, stereotypes, internalised shame, and the pressure to “get it right.”

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Performances

Billy Eichner gives a performance very much in his wheelhouse: energetic, fast-talking, sarcastic—but also vulnerable in quieter moments. He carries the film’s tone and many of its jokes. Luke Macfarlane complements him nicely, playing a more grounded, less manic character, giving balance to the relationship. Critics singled out Macfarlane’s turn as one of the film’s strengths. 

The supporting cast (including a number of queer actors and characters) helps bring texture to what could otherwise have been a typical rom-com template. Some viewers found parts of the cast under-used or the story too focused on the leads, but overall the performances were well reviewed.

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Direction, Screenplay & Themes

Nicholas Stoller directs the film in a clean, familiar rom-com style, infused with modern-day gay sensibilities. The screenplay (by Eichner and Stoller) is both affectionate and critical of gay culture—there are plenty of jokes that gay audiences will “get” (“IYKYK” moments) and also some generic rom-com tropes. As one critic put it:

“Its perpetual commentary on the mainstreaming of queerness remains at odds with its very desire to tell its story within the Hollywood system.” 

Thematically, Bros explores topics such as: what it means to date as a gay man, how identity and desire intersect, the search for connection, the fear of settling, and the tension between being openly queer and being “normal”. It also includes more adult content than many straight rom-coms (hook-ups, sex talk) which gives it a more modern, honest feel.

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What Works

• Representation: For many viewers, simply seeing a gay rom-com from a major studio is a milestone. The film takes that seriously. Rotten Tomatoes consensus: “Bros marks a step forward in rom-com representation — and just as importantly, it’s a whole bunch of fun to watch.” 

• Chemistry & humour: The back-and-forth between Eichner and Macfarlane is engaging, the jokes land often, and the emotional beats occasionally surprise with depth.

• Modern tone: The script taps into app culture, gay bar norms, sex, and heartbreak—it doesn’t shy away from messiness. Many found that refreshing.

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What Doesn’t Work

• Plot familiarity: Some critics felt the film leaned too heavily on rom-com clichés rather than fully reinventing them. 

• Main character likability: Bobby’s character divides viewers—some find him hilarious, others find him snarky and unsympathetic.

• Mixed audience response: While critics were largely positive, actual user ratings showed more mixed feelings. For example, on Metacritic the user score sits low. 

• Box office struggles: Despite positive reviews, the film did not perform strongly commercially, which some attribute to marketing, genre fatigue, or audience mismatch. 

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Ratings & Reviews Summary

• Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): 88% approval rating. 

• Metacritic (Critical): Score of 72 out of 100 (“generally favourable”). 

• IMDb: While official numbers vary, there were issues with review-bombing ahead of release. 

• Box Office: Production budget approx. $22 million; worldwide gross around $14-15 million, making it financially under-perform.

Based on both critical and audience feedback, my tentative overall rating: 3.5 / 5 stars. Key breakdown:

• Story/Originality: 3/5

• Performances: 4/5

• Representation & Impact: 4.5/5

• Humor & Entertainment: 3.5/5

• Rewatch Value: 3/5

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Final Verdict

If you’re looking for a romantic comedy that stars gay men and speaks to queer culture—not as a side note, but as the main story—then Bros is worth watching. It doesn’t reinvent the rom-com genre, but it brings it into a space where it’s rarely been given major studio treatment. It’s funny, occasionally moving, and occasionally messy—but perhaps that’s part of the point: love, dating, identity—they’re rarely clean.

On the other hand, if you expect a flawless rom-com with universally likable characters and a fresh narrative arc, you may find it a little uneven. But whether you love it or leave it disappointed, it’s likely to spark conversation, which may be as important as box office numbers.

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Read our full review of Bros (2022) – the first major studio gay romantic comedy starring Billy Eichner and Luke Macfarlane. Find out story details, ratings, standout performances and what works (and doesn’t) in this milestone film.

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