Brothers (2024) Movie Review: A Dark Every Which Way but Loose?

Amazon's Brothers: A Dark, Hilarious Twist on a Clint Eastwood Classic!

Brothers (2024): A Surprisingly Dark Remake of Every Which Way but Loose

Amazon's new crime comedy, Brothers, might not be an official remake of anything in particular but its storyline will make you instantly think about one film in particular; and we’ll soon see exactly just why this is the case. While it shares a superficial resemblance to Twins (that Arnold Schwarzenegger/Danny DeVito classic), it’s secretly a far darker, grittier take on Clint Eastwood's Every Which Way But Loose (1978)! The storyline seems surprisingly similar to Twins, including that key plot point that involves the two main characters having to take an unexpected roadtrip to find their mother, whilst being stalked by an implacable criminal!

The cast; led by Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage deliver many amazing comedic moments but with a dark and cynical tone – that makes Brothers a surprisingly enjoyable viewing. There is an extremely obvious contrast from the feel of that classic, heartwarming feel seen in Twins; this grittier reality contrasts against the tone established throughout that earlier 1980’s classic and adds an intense layer; almost creating this darker tone which seems surprisingly appealing and totally new, yet immediately recognizable through several storytelling techniques borrowed and adapted.

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Brothers' Orangutan Encounter: A Disturbing Twist on a Beloved Classic

Josh Brolin sitting on a couch looking confused in Brothers Image

Brothers’ trailer teased this weird thing— Josh Brolin's character pursued by a really amorous orangutan! That’s insane, and the actual scene is just completely insane and unpredictable: the orangutan, Samuel, uses Moke's (Brolin’s character) hand for, uh… something inappropriate! The level of detail and commitment from the production shows how much the team involved is willing to push and explore previously untouched avenues and is entirely the result of this decision to change storytelling and those involved.

The comparison with Every Which Way but Loose is incredibly stark. Eastwood’s film, though initially panned (it currently sits at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes) made tons of cash! It famously stars Eastwood as a boxer whose orangutan sidekick, Clyde, steals most of the show (through humor). The similar storyline shows some shared structure; however, the most intense detail remains the obvious changes: That scene in Brothers is a super dark reimagining of Clyde’s comedic schtick—those lighter, more innocent, far gentler interactions— replaced with dark comedy – using an encounter with orangutan which ends horribly, that creates a truly dark take on Clyde that ultimately ends poorly.

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Every Which Way but Loose: Clint Eastwood's Unexpected Blockbuster

Clint Eastwood and Clyde in Every Which Way But Loose Image

Clint Eastwood's career demonstrates quite an extensive repertoire, those risky choices and unpredictable decisions created unexpected results. Some unexpected choices might be far more appreciated than others; however, even lesser appreciated moments have become extremely memorable. Some commercially challenged movies—think Honkytonk Man or White Hunter Black Heart, plus a few others demonstrate Eastwood’s willing gamble.

Every Which Way but Loose was one massive risk that paid off incredibly well – it became a giant 1978 hit; grossing $104 million (roughly $500 million today). That huge success creates an immediate sequel Any Which Way You Can and unexpectedly launches Eastwood's strangest-ever franchise. And this extremely unlikely hit was not exactly predictable based upon how unexpected the events truly are.

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Brothers' Subversion: A Darker Take on the Orangutan Concept

That unsettling Brothers scene, the moment where Moke and Samuel interact is due to this character decision that makes this whole plotline develop as it did: Moke's brother reconnects with his mother, Bethesda (Marisa Tomei), who has this outrageous pet orangutan, Samuel. The lighter, innocent reality of Every Which Way but Loose is completely replaced with this incredibly dark and edgy scene—it showcases this darker narrative that emphasizes those problems surrounding what this kind of pet-owner reality might actually be.

It’s important for viewers to realize just how changed this particular aspect actually is: Every Which Way but Loose's success involved that novelty. But those days are totally gone. Keeping orangutans isn't funny anymore! Brothers succeeds because it recognizes this: It's that unique approach, this willingness to go against that lighter tone of many similar movies; making this incredibly cynical and almost surprisingly mature adaptation more impressive overall.

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Conclusion: A New Twist on Old Hollywood!

Brothers is more than a simple comedic action-crime flick; it's a surprisingly smart subversion of a very unique type of classic action film. And through the extremely risky yet ultimately very effective gamble; Brothers provides new insights about the same previously touched plots – those involving relationships and unexpected journeys; and does this uniquely, even generating a surprisingly unique dark humor from that premise! Even if some might find it disappointing and not quite funny, it still remains incredibly memorable; especially regarding that unexpected and unexpectedly darkly comical interaction between Moke and Samuel. This darker, bolder choice completely revitalizes a formerly well-used idea – using some familiar narrative techniques which had become cliché but remaking them effectively and utilizing dark humor completely changes what we previously assumed as possibly being capable and thus this approach is one that deserves far greater discussion.