BROS is the first romantic comedy from a major film studio (Universal Pictures) about two gay men. Post-sex warmth and wistfulness, throuples, pretty little chocolates and a "holly poly Christmas" ad? It covers them all, and much more besides.

Billy Eichner's wonderfully hilarious script – he can also claim credit for Billy on the Street, 2019's The Lion King, Difficult People and Impeachment: American Crime Story – combined with the hit-making brilliance of filmmakers Nicholas Stoller (the Neighbors films, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) and Judd Apatow (The King of Staten Island, Trainwreck, The Big Sick), makes for an utterly enjoyable cinema experience.

On top of that, the film delves into queer history and LGBTQ+ themes that have long been ignored in popular culture.

Here are five reasons, why BROS is well worth seeing – regardless of your own sexual orientation...

1. Just Take A Look At That Cast

BROS has a brilliant cast. The main protagonists are Billy Eichner as Bobby, a hopeless romantic, podcast host and co-founder of The National Museum of LGBTQ+ History and Culture in New York City; and Luke Macfarlane (Killjoys) as Aaron, who seems just a bit too ripped and too cool to be real (did we mention he is a lawyer?). But this refreshing comedy also features a number of other notable names. Guy Branum (The Other Two), Miss Lawrence (Star), Ts Madison (The Ts Madison Experience), Dot-Marie Jones (Glee), Jim Rash (Community), Eve Lindley (Dispatches from Elsewhere), Monica Raymund (Chicago Fire), Guillermo Díaz (Scandal), Jai Rodriguez (Uncoupled) and Amanda Bearse (Married …with Children) are all part of the LGBTQ+ principal cast.

Also, keep your eyes peeled for acting maestros like Emmy winner Debra Messing (Will & Grace), three-time Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy), who help to add to the film's impressive bundle of laughs.

 

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2. It's More Than Just History

Bobby may be intense (as he himself claims), but he has a point. Queer love stories have long been erased from history books. With historians claiming that Zimbabwean cave paintings depict brothers, not lovers, LGBTQ+ characters largely absent from the fairytales most people grew up on, and The Hangover joking about "faggots" as recently as 2009, the film offers plenty of the kind of examples that merit the establishment of a queer history museum.

However, BROS is anything but a dry history lesson, addressing most of these themes in comedic, quick-witted dialogue. "Of course lesbians get a month and we get a week," one of the board members quips, during the museum's meeting to discuss Bisexual Awareness Week.

Later, acknowledging he is a good singer, Bobby says: "Had American Idol existed, then I would have been the gay guy with an amazing voice who came in second."

3. The Jokes

BROS will make you cry, that's a given. But it is as likely to be as a result of the abundant laughs as of the many marvellously bittersweet moments. From the plot to the writing, everything is spot-on. Bobby's catastrophic love life makes him a relatable protagonist – and we laugh with him, constantly rooting for the nerdy guy who is stumbling towards love.

There's a plethora of cultural references to the likes of Carrie Underwood, Schitt’s Creek and Cinderella; hilarious off-pitch "don't call him" singing while chopping lettuce; and brilliantly embarrassing texts – all designed to have you in knots.

However, it's not all sparkles and rainbows. With discussions about whether 2nd graders are too young to be taught about queer love, who threw the first stone at the Stonewall Riots, internalised homophobia, and films about "tortured gay cowboys" screening at the cinema, the comedy touches on various key LGBTQI+ issues.

 

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4. The Score Is As Good As They Come

If you are a fan of the scores on the romantic classics When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and The American President, you are in for a treat, because Tony winner and seven-time Academy Award-nominee Marc Shaiman is also behind the music in BROS.

The soundtrack is a winner, featuring old school Mariah Carey to current hits and electronic party tracks – and just about everything in between. The sheer variety of the music is an indication that the movie takes the viewer on a journey, in both the geographical and the metaphorical sense.

Spoiler alert: Billy Eichner may even take to the stage in one of the film's most emotive and dynamic scenes!

5. The Cuteness

In the end, BROS is a smart, swoony and emotionally powerful romantic comedy, full of heart-warming moments.

"I'm very bad at flirting and I'm also the type of person who tells you I'm flirting," Bobby tells Aaron at their first meeting. He's clearly a natural. Then again, we cannot blame him, because the physique of Luke Macfarlane would make most people swoon. Turns out, Aaron is a pretty decent person, too.

Providing an honest look behind-the-scenes of online dating, including struggles of emotional unavailability, trust issues and cute dates, the film concludes that love is not quite love, because every love is special. Which sounds like the theme of a movie everybody should make a point of seeing.

At a glance: BROS (Universal Pictures) was directed by Nicholas Stoller and written by Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller. The film was produced by Judd Apatow, Nicholas Stoller and Josh Church, and was executive produced by Billy Eichner and Karl Frankenfield (Everything’s Trash).

Watch the trailer for BROS below. In cinemas NOW.