Cheap The Brothers McMullen (DVD) (Edward Burns, Mike McGlone, Jack Mulcahy) (Edward Burns) Price

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Customer Reviews of The Brothers McMullen

There was one great line in this movie when MacGlone's character finds out his girlfriend isn't pregnant and he won't have to make agonizing decisions about abortion and religion and whether he wants to marry the woman. He's strolling through his girlfriend's father's clothing store and says (to himself) something like, "Thank you, God. She's not pregnant. Oh thank you thank you God...... but.... will you just look at these sweaters?!?" It's a great laugh in a film that isn't full of them unless you subscribe to laughing at Irish-Catholic stereotypes for 90 minutes. I don't know a single Irish-American who has subjected himself to ethical dilemmas 24/7 like McGlone's character. Give him a hot dog on a Friday during Lent and watch him have an aneurysm. Now that would be a movie. I mean... OK! I get it! He's tightly wound Super Catholic Man. Duh! Stop pounding me over the head with it.

The acting is spotty. Note to aspiring filmmakers, do not cast Maxine Bahns in any part requiring dialogue. She delivers dialogue like Downtown Furniture delivered my couch: clumsily. Her words will bang up against the door jambs of your cinematic sensibilities, will scrape the hardwood floors of your threshold for mindless drivel and will tear the upholstery from your couch of sincerity.

Candid and Entertaining
For anyone who grew up in an Irish or Italian home, and had more than one brother, this film hits home. Burns paints an accurate picture of three headstrong men who deal with the often funny, sometimes frustrating psychotic quirks that come with having a real SOB for a father.

Although this film has its slow moments, and its characters sometimes come off as one-dimensional, it's excusable since it was Burns' first effort. The three brothers are likable and transparently decent. And the plot deals honestly with the issue of relationships -- on the new, mid-point, and latter levels -- from a man's perspective, which is a refreshing change from the gross feminization that deluges the American male in cineams these days. (Cameron Crowe, please take note)

Those who are interested in screenwriting will enjoy how Burns explores and develops his protagonists.

So, on some Friday night, find you favorite rump-sprung chair, pop open a beer, and enjoy the tale of the Brothers McMullen.

Nothing redeeming whatsoever...
There is absolutely no redeeming quality to any of the characters. Zilch. And Burns' relationship to his little hottie he finds is about as believable in real life as an episode of Baywatch; and the dialogue between Burns and his little hottie is as stiff as a board. That about sums it up.