Director Louis Leterrier’s “The Brothers Grimsby” is full of disgusting, crude humor. The movie begins with couple Nobby and Dawn (Sacha Baron Cohen and Rebel Wilson) having sex in a mattress store, and from there, things just get more raunchy.
Nobby is an obsessive soccer fan who lives in Grimsby, England, and is a horrible influence on his kids. Separated from his brother, Sebastian (Mark Strong), since childhood, Nobby has always hoped to reunite with him. Sebastian is a spy, and when he runs into Nobby while carrying out a mission, Nobby insists on joining him.
“The Brothers Grimsby” is the kind of movie you should never see with your family, unless graphic elephant sex is somehow not awkward for you. Nevertheless, the movie is enjoyable and well-cast. The movie thrives on the contrast between Cohen’s cluelessness and Strong’s stereotypical cool spy persona.
Penélope Cruz plays Rhonda George, the antagonist Sebastian and Nobby must stop. Wilson’s performance as Nobby’s girlfriend Dawn is as sleazy as Cohen’s, even though she has a fraction of screen time. Gabourey Sidibe plays a hotel maid who catches Nobby’s eye. Isla Fisher has a role as well. Still, the film mainly focuses on Nobby and Sebastian and whether or not they can succeed as a mismatched duo.
There are times when “The Brothers Grimsby” tries to be more than superficial, like when there are flashbacks to Sebastian and Nobby’s childhood. The flashbacks show the brothers playing together before they were separated and the time when they get separated. While these scenes may be somewhat insightful about the brothers’ relationship, they seem pointless. The attempts to show the meaning of brotherhood, whether sarcastic or not, don’t fit in with rest of the movie. Any emotion “The Brothers Grimsby” wants to evoke is lost amid crass jokes. This also is not the type of movie to watch for the plot or cinematography. That’s OK though, because you’re entertained for an hour and a half.
Sometimes “The Brothers Grimsby” is offensive, like when Sebastian accidentally shoots a young boy from the Middle East who has AIDS, causing him to infect others. Don’t expect witty humor or clever plot twists. This movie is about immaturity above all else, making it an amusing film to see.
**MOVE gives “The Brothers Grimsby” 2 out of 5 stars**
