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Brothers backdrop

Brothers

14 August 2015Hindi2h 35m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 30 scored reviews · 8 not rated

Akshay and the fights impress, but melodrama and bloat weigh Brothers down.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Akshay Kumar's performance and fights
  • Criticised: Excessive melodrama and slow pacing

Audience

User score 4.9 out of 10 from 9 ratings, Unfavorable
Read 3 audience reviews ↓

Critic consensus

What 36 critics are saying

Critical reception for Brothers is largely mixed-to-negative, with most reviewers finding it a pale imitation of its Hollywood source material Warrior. The most consistent praise goes to Akshay Kumar's performance and the film's fight sequences, which several critics found genuinely kinetic and realistic. However, the majority of critics fault the film for excessive melodrama, sluggish pacing, over-long runtime, and a script that layers on emotional manipulation without earning genuine resonance. A recurring complaint is that the Bollywood-ization of the premise dilutes rather than enhances the story.

How the 30 scores spread

8 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 36 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (38)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    Brothers, despite its contrivances, leaves you choked more than once. How can it not, with all that unabashed emotional manipulation? Throwing in an item song, repeated flashbacks, and too many cutaways of an anguished wife (Jacqueline Fernandez), Malhotra lays it on thick to a premise already inherently melodramatic. He's further Bollywood-izing a plot that's already 'too Bollywood' to begin with. The result is a film that's trying a little too hard.
  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra's film uses a form of kinetic martial arts to foreground its story of two warring siblings, but it stays, at heart, a Karan Johar film.
  3. Top critic

    NDTV

    Film review ·

    It makes so much noise that any sensible point about brotherly bonding and filial fidelity that it might be trying to make is completely drowned out by the decibels. Take your earplugs along.
  4. Top critic

    Rediff

    Film review ·

    Weighing 158 unbearable minutes, Brothers is nearly 600-times as long as the Rousey win -- and not one-millionth as thrilling.
  5. SKJBollywoodNews

    Film review ·

    Brothers may not appeal to those who look for laughter in times of despair.There is barely room for a whiff of a smile in this dark sanguinary and seductive tale of destruction and redemption told in a free-wheeling style that accommodates derivations and innovations without apology or awkwardness. Definitely one of Akshay Kumar's glorious achievements.
  6. India Today

    Film review ·

    Akshay Kumar needs to do more of these high-action roles. And not necessarily the mindless action. Watch Brothers for the kicks, punches, grappling, chocking and the un-understandable MMA jargon. You'll come out with the Akshay you want to see, hopefully. Welcome back to the cage, Khiladi Kumar!
  7. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    BROTHERS is a huge letdown on the account of its slow pace and lack of emotional connect. At the box office, the movie will enjoy huge footfalls over the weekend due to Independence Day Holiday and lack of credible opposition at the cinema halls. The real struggle for the film however will start from Monday onwards, which would turn out to be the deciding factor of the fate of the film.
  8. Bollywood Life

    Film review ·

    Brothers is a decent watch, but if you want your money's worth, then I recommend watching the original Warrior.
  9. DNA India

    Film review ·

    It's nowhere close to Warrior. But there's the Akshay-Siddharth on-screen combo, how can you miss that?
  10. FilmiBeat

    Film review ·

    This movie is for both family and youth! Although the youth would enjoy it a tad bit more as Akshay and Sidharth give you one of the best Bollywood action scenes ever. Brothers makes for one great weekend watch, that you just ought to see! So don't miss, book your tickets right away!
  11. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    A background score with lower decibel levels and smarter dialogues might have made this a better film. But still a good one time watch, especially if you are a fight junkie.
  12. Sify

    Film review ·

    The few gripping fights, Akshay Kumar's ace act, and a fabulous supporting cast makes the film reasonably watchable. Oscillating wildly between a sports movie and a melodrama, this is your dose of punch-drunk love!
  13. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    Brothers, despite mouthing, 'Har sport mein thora drama toh hota hai', only skims that dramatic surface. It could've dived in deeper.
  14. FridayMoviez

    Film review ·

    ...despite the fact that the film gets a little bit stretchy in bits and parts, we are going for a two and a half stars for 'Brothers' since the three leading stars Akshay, Sidharth and Jackie carry the film quite well on their shoulders and also full marks to the realistic combat and training sequences. While there is nothing very different or special in the storyline of the film, it is still worth a watch, especially if you want to see Jackie Shroff in one of his best performances and if you are a die-hard fan of mixed martial arts.
  15. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    Karan Malhotra's Brothers is not Warrior. It relies heavily on the formula-driven content. Having said that, Brothers still offers you some fantastic fight sequences and a matured Akshay Kumar. You can also consider it a new film rather than a Warrior remake and be happy about it.
  16. India Glitz

    Film review ·

    'Brothers' is a big disappointment. The easy, uninspiring, simple, obvious and boring remake of Hollywood's 'Warrior' struggles to deliver as an action packed emotional family drama even after a terrific Akshay and reformed Sidharth. Still you can watch it if you are an Akshay, Sidharth die hard. Else take your call.
  17. KoiMoi

    Film review ·

    I don't know what I disliked more, Sidharth's incompetency to perform in a role that Tom Hardy completely nailed or the extremely loose plot that is a shoddier version of Warrior. Call for a DVD of Warrior and watch it! Unless over-the-top drama is your scene, you will not enjoy Brothers
  18. Zee News

    Film review ·

    Making the soft hearted audience a bit teary towards the end, 'Brothers' wraps up on a positive note, well, yes the typical Bollywood style. It's dragging climax makes you a little weary, and that is a major setback. This monsoon weekend, go grab a ticket and watch some incredible acting with a hint of breathtaking fight sequences.
  19. Glamsham

    Film review ·

    There is in fact no story, nor any story-telling craft. However, if you have braved the first half, and are willing to sit through the next, and love some adrenalin rush, sans any connection with the story, the movie gets better.
  20. India

    Film review ·

    If you are a die-hard Akshay Kumar fan, and enjoy wrestling matches, this movie might impress you. If not, you can definitely skip watching this one.

From our readers

Audience reviews (3)

9 ratings · user score 4.9

  1. Gaurav BishtAug 2015
    6/10

    Hello All, Yesterday i watched this movie. Story was predictable and somehow weak. Jackie shroff comebacks with a super act. The end was also not that great and movie was enjoyable for only 1 hour. regards,

  2. Tejas NairAug 2015
    4/10

    2015 has been a terrible year for Hindi cinema. The official remake of the hit Gavin O'Connor film Warrior (2011), Brothers is a solid example to prove that the previous statement is, in fact, true. An alcoholic martial arts trainer (Shroff) accidentally commits a crime that sees his whole family fall apart, giving rise to a rivalry between his two sons, which is irreverently taken inside a wrestling ring. The revelation that one of the two sons was born out of wedlock was the cause of the crime, and continues as a driving cause of the whole story. Now all grown up, David (Kumar), the elder son, is battling for a better pay as a high school teacher, moonlighting as a fighter, to fend for his daughter's critical disease while Monty (Malhotra), alcoholic junior and chip off the old block, is still not over his decades-long familial issues and does specifically nothing for a living. In an international mixed martial arts championship that blooms out of nowhere, David and Monty fight it out through the tough line- up to end up in a one-on-one finale. I can disclose anything and everything about the film and no one can accuse me of being a spoilsport, because the title itself blurts it out loud what and how the film's climax is going to roll out. There is a lot of melodrama before things actually start to make sense, and by the time it culminates with a predictable ending, one wonders what the film was really about. Was it about the rivalry? Was it about the blood relation? Was it about fooling the audience? The happenings inside the ring are literally unbelievable and while most films in this genre try to wrap it up sooner, this one here has the whole second act dedicated to it. Although the production design is greatly supportive, the fights happen back-to-back, where these so-called supermen flex few muscles and show like they toil harder than Chilean miners by eventually winning. And they want us to believe that. Arr, not happening. Shroff acts fine, but is too loud for his dull character. Malhotra looks confused and seems to be thinking about why he chose the project. Kumar looks hungover from playing the notorious vigilante in his previous Bollywood potboiler Gabbar is Back (2015). BOTTOM LINE: Brothers is a faintly engaging family drama attached with a random sport. Avoid. VERDICT: 4 stars out of 10. Another remake bites the dust. Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

  3. 4/10

    On the auspicious occasion of our Independence Day, I would like to remind all my fellow Indians that we should strive to keep our freedom intact & not vile it away over petty issues like politics, communal violence etc. It might seem ironic but this week we have Karan Malhotra's "Brothers" hitting the screens which has a pair of brothers baying for each other's blood almost similar as to how some anti-social elements are trying to entice violence against our brothers & sisters. So will the movie cater to the tastes of the Indian audience??? Gary Fernandes (Jackie Shroff), an ex-fighter was released from jail after having served a jail sentence for the accidental murder of his wife. He was filled with remorse as he choked with guilt over the mishap that had happened primarily due to his addiction to alcohol. But it had virtually wrecked the life of everyone in his life as his two sons faced the brunt of it. His elder son, David (Akshay Kumar) who never forgave his father & cut off ties with his half brother after the demise of his mother was leading a contended life as a teacher with his wife & daughter. But a life threatening cardiac problem for his daughter meant he was squeezed for money & was forced to make some extra bucks through street fights. Monty (Sidharth Malhotra) was Gary's younger son who also made a living through fights & like his father was reliant on booze. It was around this time that Peter Bregenza (Kiran Kumar), a multi millionaire sports enthusiast arranges a MMA competition in the country & as one would expect both brothers enroll in it. But who will emerge victorious & at what cost??? Karan Malhotra is familiar to all of us as the one who had remade "Agneepath" which was quite a decent effort to be frank, Over here, he has taken the plot from the Hollywood movie "Warrior" & added heavy doses of melodrama to the point that it gets nauseating in certain sequences. The first half is interspersed with flash backs to showcase the equation between the father & his sons, while in the second half it had nothing apart from fights. So was it an absolute bore??? Well not exactly, as some sequences like the training sessions & fights were well choreographed. But unless you have a decent story to explain, it gets taxing after a certain time which is what happens here, None of the technical aspects deserves special mention as it was average at best. Though Karan might have faltered in the script, I felt he has done a credible job with the cast that he has chosen. Akki was an apt choice as a brother who excels in martial arts & he has enacted his role with restraint making sure he didnt go over the top. Sidharth also has done a fine job as Monty & excelled in the fight sequences, though he needs to work on the emotional scenes. Jackie hams it big time in many of the scenes while Shefali Shah rocked in her brief role. Verdict: It might sound surprising but I actually liked it more than the original but is it worth the time??? Hmm...well I have to say no...coz the script is as predictable as the conduct of our opposition party in Parliament. In all probability, it isn't going to make much of a tremor at the box office & you may as well spent this weekend watching Saina Nehwal's finals!!! Rating: 2.25/5 Regards...Ben

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