Oh, brother.
Famous pals Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson play exaggerated versions of themselves in their new Apple TV comedy, “Brothers.”
It’s a messy stew of ideas that’s occasionally amusing. Mostly, however, the show is self-indulgent and aimless.
Premiering Sept. 23 on Apple TV, “Brothers” gets off to an irreverent start, as onscreen text informs us that it’s “based on a true rumor.”
In 2023, the “Dazed and Confused” actor revealed that he and Harrelson may have the same dad, convicted hitman Charles Voyde Harrelson. The former “True Detective” co-stars have never updated that claim with evidence.
In the show, the plot kicks off as Harrelson goes to stay at McConaughey’s ranch in Texas, bringing chaos to the latter’s relaxing life.
There, McConaughey’s mother (played by Holland Taylor) lets slip the explosive information about her past with Harrelson’s father. The “Cheers” alum then sets off to investigate her claim, which involves visiting dusty backwoods dive bars and dealing with bumbling criminals.
Harrelson’s subplot in the series is like “True Detective” mixed with “Dumb and Dumber.”
Meanwhile, McConaughey makes moves to run for the governor of Texas.
“Brothers” is several shows combined into one, and most of them don’t work. At times, it feels like a sly, backdoor way to announce a pivot into politics for McConaughey (the Texas native hasn’t announced a gubernatorial run, but he’s made past remarks that he’s open to it).
The show’s buddy comedy elements shine the brightest, such as scenes when the famously laid-back McConaughey is painted as “the uptight one,” compared to the even more aggressively mellow Harrelson.
But even that part of the story stumbles, too often aiming for low-hanging fruit to evoke laughs (such as a scene where the actors literally don fake noses and mustaches).
“Brothers” doesn’t seem to know what kind of show it’s trying to be.
It’s not a satire or a mockumentary. It’s not a sincere investigation of the rumor, or even the tried and true format of “celebrity pals travel around together in a docuseries.” It’s scripted, with actors in the supporting roles.
In the most baffling part of “Brothers,” Harrelson and McConaughey’s real wives (Laura Louie and Camila Alves) aren’t in the show, but the actresses (Brittany Ishibashi and Natalie Martinez) bear passing resemblances to them.
The same goes for their teenage kids, who get too much real estate in the plot. Nobody is tuning into this show to watch the superstar’s fake kids attend a school dance. Yawn.
Akin to “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which perfectly blended reality and artifice, McConaughey and Harrelson’s on-screen wives and children have fictional names.
Though with “Brothers,” the point of this bizarre stagecraft with funhouse mirror versions of Harrelson and McConaughey’s families doesn’t land.
“Brothers” isn’t clever enough to balance its “not quite fiction, not quite reality” tone. It needed to commit to one side of the equation.
If Harrelson and McConaughey wanted to play brothers in a comedy together, the show would have been better served if it leaned harder into fiction.
Alternatively, “Brothers” could have made a fascinating docuseries about the actors unpacking the history of Harrelson’s father.
For instance, the show “Men in Kilts”followed “Outlander” actors Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish as they traveled around Scotland, learning about its history while mocking each other. It would be an easy format for Harrelson and McConaughey to put their own spin on.
“Brothers” tries too hard to be clever, and falls flat.
It feels like watching somebody else’s home videos from their childhood. Clearly, it’s entertaining for them. But to everyone else, it’s a mixture of dull, meandering, and confounding, sprinkled with occasional amusing moments.
“Brothers” premieres September 23 on Apple TV, with new episodes out weekly.
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