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Let鈥檚 get one thing straight. Bros, the first 17c起草社区+ rom-com to be produced by a major studio, is undeniably, unapologetically and awesomely gay.聽

This romantic comedy about two gay men who fall in love, despite both being seemingly uninterested in finding love, is not only terrifically funny, but it also gives Queer audiences a film which celebrates modern-day gay culture, while at the same time deftly satirising it.

Bros sets a striking new tone for depicting the complexities of modern gay life, while still welcoming audiences of all identities to enjoy its broad humour.

Billy Eichner, who stars and co-wrote Bros (along with director Nicholas Stoller) has created an out-and-proud film, but how much you will enjoy the film will likely depend on how much you appreciate Billy Eichner鈥檚 penchant for creating caustic characters.

‘You Like Dumb Guys…’

Bros tells the story of Bobby Leiber (played by Eichner), a 40 year old聽 podcaster (who talks about 鈥渨hatever [he] feels like talking about鈥�), who is also spearheading the opening of the first 17c起草社区 history museum in the US. Bobby is seemingly content living life as a single man, or is he?

Bobby, has given up on the idea of love, and endlessly finds fault with other gay men. 鈥淚 support them, but I don鈥檛 trust them,鈥� he tells a friend.

Bobby鈥檚 manic cynicism and arch humour makes him his own worst social enemy. He is tightly wound and highly opinionated and completely lacks a filter even in the most delicate of circumstances.聽

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want any Hollywood bullshit. No scenes where two guys are about to hook up, and all of a sudden the camera conveniently pulls away,鈥� Bobby says when recounting being wooed by a Hollywood studio to write a gay rom-com.

On a night out, Bobby meets Aaron (played by Luke Macfarlane), a sexy, muscular and successful lawyer who on first sight appears to be way out of Bobby鈥檚 league. 鈥淚 need you to be honest with me. You like dumb guys鈥�you like these bro-y meathead idiots,鈥� Bobby says later as the two begin to date.

‘Gay Guys Are So Stupid!’

Aaron鈥檚 natural aloofness disguises a well-hidden vulnerable side, a side where Aaron is battling his own internalized homophobia.聽

While Aaron has found success in his work, it鈥檚 a job he hates. Aaron had originally dreamed of being a chocolatier but didn鈥檛 pursue his passion for fear that the job would be seen as stereotypically gay.

鈥淕ay guys are so stupid,鈥� Aaron tells Bobby when they first meet.聽

鈥淚 know. But we鈥檝e been smart enough to brand ourselves as being smart,鈥� Bobby replies.

The two men who are opposites in so many ways feel drawn to each other and their developing relationship feels natural and is warmly played by the two well-matched stars. Eichner and Macfarlane have an easy chemistry which helps to ease the slightly unbelievable attraction between the two highly opposing characters. While Eichner鈥檚 performance is initially slightly grating, that is exactly what Bobby is supposed to be. It is really just an extension of Eichner鈥檚 work in Billy on the Street.

Falling In Love

Bros is particularly successful when it delves into Aaron鈥檚 insecurities and his desire to be a straight-appearing and acting gay man and how that need is put to the test when he is attracted to someone who is decidedly not interested in whitewashing their sexuality.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e so different from me. You鈥檙e very intense,鈥� Aaron tells Bobby. When Aaron introduces Bobby to his small-town parents he is horrified by Bobby鈥檚 refusal to play it cool and low-key.聽

Despite (or maybe because) of their wildly divergent personalities, Bobby ultimately discovers, to his horror, that he has fallen in love. 鈥淎ll my life I prided myself on being self-reliant. But his motherf**ker has gotten into my head.鈥�

While Bros follows the usual well-oiled structure of all rom-com鈥檚 it still is a refreshing experience to see two men fall in love in a major studio film, and get to do all the things Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan used to get to do. They kiss, have sex, and buy Christmas trees. This is where Bros feels revolutionary. For the first time, a major studio comedy, ideally directed to attract mass audiences, gives two men the chance to show intimacy and sexuality on screen.

Easy, Fun And Gay

The rest of the cast is filled with a cast of familiar actors, many of them out 17c起草社区 performers, including Dot-Marie Jones, Jim Rash, Guillermo Diaz, Amanda Bearse, Harvey Fierstein, TS Madison and Bowen Yang (who gets the film鈥檚 funniest line; 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 on my way to a Pride party and you鈥檙e too old to be in the pool. Please leave鈥�). They all bring a buoyant energy to the film though many of the characters are (purposefully) drawn as extreme caricatures.

Kristin Chenoweth and Debra Messing also appear in pretty amusing cameos, with Messing in particular scoring major laughs playing herself.

The film is an easy and fun watch and while it is certainly very, very gay in tone it is not a film which will keep straight audiences at arm鈥檚 length. There are laughs for everyone.

Admittedly the film is not always entirely successful. Bobby is sometimes a difficult character to root for and Eichner鈥檚 performance, particularly in the early sections of the film seem slightly maniacal.

Nor does the film always deliver the raunchy gags audiences would expect from a film which ranks Judd Apatow amongst its producers, although the film certainly doesn鈥檛 shy away from jokes involving group sex, Grindr, and anonymous hookups.

It is a tribute to Eichner鈥檚 talent and star power that such a Queer-positive film has been made. While its not consistently the laugh-out loud film I was hoping for, it has an undeniable joy and energy that should put a smile on everyone鈥檚 face.

Bros opened in Australian cinemas on October 27.