'Blu-ray or Bust' - THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY

'Blu-ray or Bust'

THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY (2016, R, 83 minutes, COLUMBIA PICTURES/BIG TALK PRODUCTIONS)

Watch this movie. I’m telling you this right off the bat, because many people do not care for Sasha Baron Cohen all that much, despite the range of his talent. So, go watch this film.

Unless you have a fear of being raped by an elephant—then, by all means, steer clear of THE BROTHERS GRIMSBY.

Most people associate Cohen with BORAT, or, even worse, BRUNO. But you have to watch for his smaller roles to truly understand the talent this man exudes. From the Station Inspector in Steven Spielberg’s HUGO, to Thénardier in LES MISERABLES, he seems to shine best when his screen time is limited. Until now.

GRIMSBY is, quite possibly, the grossest, foulest, and funniest comedy of the last several years. Seriously. The smartly written (co-written by Cohen, of course) film combines gross-out humor and witty banter like none other, all the while serving it up with a heavy dose of action and a giant smirky-nod to every serious spy movie ever made. Cohen plays 'Nobbie', a poor English family man who loves his family almost as much as he loves soccer. His estranged brother Sebastian, whom Nobbie has searched for for years, turns up—and turns out to work for the British government. As Sebastian, Mark Strong is smart, violent, and efficient at his job. His long lost brother Nobbie is a complete dumbass.

Suddenly finding themselves on the run together sets up this odd couple pairing for a wild, and sometimes seriously gross, departure from the spy genre. It does so in a gleeful majesty that borders on spontaneous insanity. While predictable at times, it also manages to be genuinely funny at others. Just when you think a joke is over (see: ELEPHANT), director Louis Leterrier (THE TRANSPORTER, NOW YOU SEE ME) pushes you way past the breaking point. Ridiculousness turns into hilarity, and over-the-top leaves you wanting even more.

Keep in mind, this is Sasha Baron Cohen—at times, it is bound to get weird. But it is the reactions of those around him which illicit the biggest laughs. Strong is superbly cast as his brother, playing the straight man to Cohen’s idiotic brilliance. His reputation in British cinema is spotless (don’t see: ELEPHANT SCENE), and here he is given the opportunity to reflect the audience’s own looks of wide-eyed befuddlement of whatever situation Nobbie has suddenly thrust (honestly, freaking ELEPHANT) them into.

The special features are almost as funny as the film itself. To see the work that everyone, and most especially Leterrier, put into this gooey mess is a wonder to behold. And you get the feeling that the deleted scenes had to go not due to time, but because it was the only way to get the film past the ratings board. I’m honestly surprised at the fact that this one walked away with the rating it did, considering the effort of, well…ELEPHANT.

The movie is not just a comedy—it is also an action film, so you kind of need this one on Blu-ray. Between Leterrier’s camera work, the soundtrack, and the set-pieces (I could honestly put another pachyderm reference here, but, really, what’s the point anymore?) demand the clarity of the format.

Hopefully, Cohen is done with the baser elements of his comedy—he tends to stick with a character for a while, and although Nobbie is fun, it is more entertaining to see him interacting with actors of a more serious nature. This film should usher in a new phase of his place in the world of cinema (he says, with a half grin, thinking ELEPHANT the entire time…)

Grade: B+

Special Features: A

Blu-ray Necessary: Most Definitely

-- T.S. Kummelman