Brothers, The

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +2 1/2

Content: -4

Four young, professional men continue their lifelong friendship and share thoughts on their relationships with women. Although Derrick (D.L. Hughley) is married, hes bothered by his wife Sheilas (Tamala Jones) sexual hang-ups. But when Terry (Shemar Moore) announces his engagement to BeBe (Susan Dalian), the others fear their group is threatening to break up. Dr. Jackson Smith (Morris Chestnut), whose parents are divorced, fears commitment until he falls for freelance photographer Denise (Gabrielle Union). But his fears resurface when he discovers she dated his father (Clifton Powell). And his mother (Jenifer Lewis) still seems to be in love with her philandering ex. Lawyer Brian (Bill Bellamy) has had a string of women, but cant seem to settle on one. This humorous look at sex, love and relationships will attract fans of the stars but explicit sexual material may detract from a long run.

Comparisons and jokes are made about this male version of the popular WAITING TO EXHALE. In fact, Brian says hed make a film from the male viewpoint called Breathe ... Premarital sex is frequently implied in conversation and by couples in bed. Terry even has prostitutes at his bachelor party and encourages a drunk Brian to enjoy the scantily clad women. Despite the frequent sexually explicit dialogue and couples in bed, most of the acts are implied and nudity is limited to a few brief appearances of thong bikinis. However, obcene and crude vocabulary is frequently aired. Jackson admonishes his father about his treatment of women, which influences Jacksons actions. And Jacksons mother displays her ethnic prejudice by claiming any woman whos not black is white. She also says that a man should have three things and two are money. Derrick hits the films theme when he tells Sheila their problems are not about sex but what it says about their relationship. However, the frequent obscenities and explicit sexual content make THE BROTHERS morally oprhaned.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Screen Gems/Sony, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Many (79) times - Mild 34, moderate 45

Obscene Language: Many (75) times - F-word 13, s-word 39, other21, finger gesture

Profanity: Several (9) times - Regular 5 (GD), exclamatory 4 (OMG, OG)

Violence: Few times - Mild (woman throws another onto table, shots fired into home, gun threat)

Sex: Several times (implied by couples in bed, unconventional act implied)

Nudity: Few times (female rear in thong, brief breast) Near Nudity - Several times (women in underwear, couples covered by sheet, woman in nightgown, skimpy bikinis, woman in towel)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Almost Constant (woman unbuttons sweater and approaches man, sensual kissing, numerous discussions about sex and sexual acts, wife dances suggestively for husband, bachelor party includes prostitutes)

Drugs: Several times - alcohol drinking, drunken behavior, refer. drinking while pregnant, cigarette smoking

Other: Ref. to needing Jesus to curb cussing and man uses being saved as reason not to cuss, woman says taught good girls dont do certain sex acts, divorced couple remarries, discussions about what true love is, racial prejudice comments, son admonishes father about treatment of women, men and women groups discuss relationship problems

Running Time: 102 minutes
Intended Audience: Adults

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