“Bros” can’t win, probably, but it’s enjoyable, especially in its first hour, and the second hour has enough going on, and enough elemental romantic rooting interest, to excuse some detours.
As a probable first — it’s being marketed as the first major studio gay rom-com in the genially raunchy R-rated tradition of “Trainwreck,” “Bridesmaids” and “Knocked Up” — already it has spawned legions of homophobic trolls online. Since its Toronto International Film Festival premiere, it has also drawn more reasonable skeptics taking issue with its deployment of straight narrative tropes, right down to the montages, made all too palatable (the argument goes) for cis mainstream enjoyment.
Clearly, the movie is too much not enough, and not enough too much. “Bros” is also sharp-witted and quick on its feet. Lanky, tightly wound Billy Eichner successfully modulates his “Billy on the Street” routine for a new context, and a comfortable expansion on the performer we saw in Hulu’s “Difficult People.”
