Brothers Review: Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson Goof Around Some Family Truths
The mere thought of Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey teaming up for a new TV show is enough to create high levels of anticipation. Given their magnificent work together on the first season of True Detective, a high that has never been reached on the show since, it’s only right to be excited. With Apple TV’s Brothers though, the pair find themselves in a more light-hearted comedic scenario, where family truths have the potential to change their lives forever.
Best friends for many years, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, along with their families, spend a prolonged period of time together in Texas after Woody’s daughter’s engagement is called off. As old bonds are solidified and new bonds are forged, the potential revelation of the two actors actually being half brothers is one that has major ramifications for everyone involved.
Each episode starts with “Based on a true rumour”, and I was surprised to learn that the whole premise of this show is in fact based on the idea that Harrelson and McConaughey may genuinely be half brothers in real life. The meta nature of the show’s premise provides a great opportunity for the stars to have some fun, poking fun at their own careers in the process – McConaughey lauding his Oscar win over Harrelson’s mere nominee status being a cheeky moment in particular. Thankfully, their respective careers aren’t the only targets for jokes, stopping this from becoming very one note.
There’s certainly a strong bond between Harrelson and McConaughey, their chemistry shining through every episode and becoming the strong foundation the show relies on. Their friendship is such a close one that they’d probably describe themselves as brothers anyway, and the show features fraternal activities throughout, with some even leading to them falling out with each other. As someone who has two older brothers, that can happen a fair amount.
While they take centre stage, this is very much a family affair as mothers, wives, sons and daughters all play their part in bringing the show together. It gets incredibly cheesy at times, which may put some people off, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t right up my street. Ma Mac is one of the show’s stand out characters, played with such devilish glee by Holland Taylor, as her barbed put downs target Harrelson and his family early on to avoid secrets being revealed.
Other hijinks featured in the show include run-ins with the police, the duo trying to recapture their younger years in a band, and even romance blossoming between Harrelson’s adopted daughter and McConaughey’s son. Not all of it works as well as you’d hope yet they are elements that make this quite an endearing show to sit back and enjoy.
Most people will no doubt be tuning into the show to see Harrelson and McConaughey goof around together in a comedy, and they do make this worthwhile with their performances. With these two at their disposal though, you’d think the writers would try to fit in some deeper emotional moments. Given the subject matter, this would have helped push the show to the next level. The rest of the cast are having plenty of fun along the way too, but there isn’t really anything given to anyone that takes this further than easy entertainment.
While Brothers has some genuinely good laughs throughout, and two leads well up for mocking themselves, it is far off the standard of television they set with True Detective. The ending definitely baits a second season however, whether there’s enough to go off here for round two could be a major stumbling block in future plans.
★★★
Streaming from September 23rd on Apple TV / Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Holland Taylor, Natalie Martinez, Brittany Ishibashi / Showrunner: Lee Eisenberg / Apple TV
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