Movie Review: Four Brothers

While watching this movie (and thoroughly enjoying myself) I was struck with three revelations. 1) Andre 3000 can act, 2) The soundtrack is a unique and refreshing breather from the technotronic rock-America fare of past movies, featuring Marvin Gaye, Jefferson Airplane, The Temptations, and The Four Tops, and 3) The director has clearly never heard the word 'pacing' in his life. John Singleton, Director, was the man who brought us "2 Fast 2 Furious", a movie which didn't need pacing, as it was just a testosterone-fueld automotive-wet-dream music video. Shaft didn't need pacing since it was upbeat, and you could lose yourself in the amusing moments. However, for a self-proclaimed 'serious' revenge flick, you can't just throwi everything together, scene by scene. A certain deft touch is required. For people who don't care enough about cinematography to notice this kind of thing, please ignore the previous few sentences and go enjoy this movie.

And let's not beat around the bush, it is enjoyable. Marky Mark is a much better actor than he has ever been credited for, and his chemistry with the other brothers in this movie seems genuine. The hockey games, the good-natured homoerotic jabs, then living room brawls all smack of people who love eachother (girls may not quite get that). The Thanksgiving dinner was poignant, the funeral reunion tensed over the feeling of loss, and most of all, the scenes of violence are done exceedingly well. A few too many bullets may have been expended during the final big shootout at the house of their late adoptive mother, but all that can be forgiven... except for the climax.

After the big final showdown fight scene, I was still left waiting for the climax of the movie. I was kind of shocked to learn a few minutes later that I had just witnessed the climax of the movie, and apparently I missed it. I know John Singleton was going for a sort of sombre, low-key taste of revenge, but it was so low-key it slipped under my chair and got stuck in the spilled Pepsi.

Apart from that one sizeable flub, this is a thoroughly enjoyable revenge flick, and should be seen by guys everywhere.

8.6 out of 10.