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Geek Review: The Brothers Grimsby

“You managed to do what Voldemort couldn’t do in eight movies!”

On the surface, The Brothers Grimsby is your usual paint-by numbers buddy movie that we have seen countless times before. However, this particular duo of hero and very much non hero is something a little different.

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Nobby (Sacha Baron Cohen), who’s from Grimsby, which is portrayed in the film as a dilapidated hellhole version of the Lincolnshire fishing town, is suddenly reunited with his long-lost brother Sebastian (Mark Strong), who in the time they have been separated has become a badass spy/hitman for the British secret service.

The two are immediately caught up in a terrorist plot to rid the world of its ‘scum’ underclass, and this gives Nobby the chance to reconnect with his brother and live out a wild James Bond fantasy with varying degrees of success. Nobby’s version of Bond however looks like Liam Gallagher and of course lager is the preferred drink of choice.

The jokes come thick and fast throughout and many are vulgar beyond belief. It’s a wonder Mark Strong signed on for this as his character is the brunt of many of the more extreme situations. Just prepare yourselves for the Elephants! The film also has some extraordinarily up-to-date targets that include Donald Trump and Bill Cosby. Donald Trump’s fate received a huge roar and applause in the preview screening. Take that Mr Trump!

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The action scenes when they hit are loud and well staged by director Louis Letterier (The Transporter, Now You See Me), though the opening is probably the highlight with a Call of Duty style first person sequence that introduces the audience to Sebastian. The movie is pretty trim on the running time with it coming in at just over 1 hour 20 mins. Nothing feels rushed or skipped around but there is a feeling that a lot of the family scenes with Nobby and the underused Rebel Wilson were left on the cutting room floor.

The Brothers Grimsby is a different beast to Borat, Ali G and Brüno. It’s Sacha Baron Cohen sort of going mainstream yet the movie still manages to be entertaining and at the same time a vulgar commentary on certain sections of society that believe in the benefits culture and the reality shows that have spawned from that.

GEEK REVIEW SCORE

Summary

Rude, crude, vulgar, shameless and loads of fun. It won’t win any awards (well maybe some Golden Raspberries) but it will definitely entertain you. Just turn off your brain after getting seated in the cinema.

Overall
8/10
8/10
  • Story - 7.5/10
    7.5/10
  • Direction - 8/10
    8/10
  • Characterisation - 8.5/10
    8.5/10
  • Geek Satisfaction - 8/10
    8/10
User Review
0 (0 votes)