Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best

In the era of Judd Apatow buddy comedies about misfit boy-men, Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best—written, directed by, and co-starring Ryan O'Nan—is a lower-key entry in the genre. O'Nan plays Alex, a struggling singer-songwriter whose dark, moody songs get him kicked out of a program for mentally challenged public school kids. At his nadir, Alex teams up with Jim (Michael Weston), a weird, experimental musician who lives with his ornery grandfather and boasts a vast collection of keyboard instruments made for children. Strangers to one another, the two men embark on a road tour in an ancient hatchback, proving a success at club dates—despite all odds—as they combine Alex's guitar-driven tunes with Jim's electronic noodling. The duo are soon joined by Cassidy (Arielle Kebbel), who not only likes their sound but also begins to handle the guys' rudimentary marketing—and enters into a relationship with the resistant Alex, bringing tension to the arrangement. O'Nan directs with an eye toward a strong visual joke while also sprinkling his dialogue with some hilarious lines (one very effective scene revolves around a club owner who expects the Brooklyn Brothers to be joined by a rock superstar). But the film also suffers from some lengthy exposition and numbing back stories about the characters. Still, O'Nan and the rest of the cast often serve up lively entertainment, making this indie film a strong optional purchase. (T. Keogh)