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Bruiser (2022)

Bruiser (2022)

NR

A flawed but still sensitively done study of the cycle of toxic masculinity

6.5

Movie

United States of America
English
Drama
2022
MILES WARREN
Frank Oakley III, Gavin Munn, Jalyn Hall
101 min

TLDR

Realizing you're growing up to be your dad can be weird, but it's way better than realizing you're reverting into your son.

What it's about

Fourteen-year-old Darious befriends an older mentor figure, which puts a strain on his relationship with his strict father.

The take

As a story, Bruiser isn't the most tightly written thing in the world, with a somewhat long-winded first half and a conclusion that feels too easy given the complicated things we learn about each character. But at its core, it remains impressively perceptive about how men perform their masculinity as a game of aggression and dominance—even if they feel that they're simply trying to protect the children closest to them. Bruise takes on quite a bit of suspense for a drama, as tempers slowly boil over and everybody involved in this supposed battle over who claims authority over a teenage boy reveals themselves to be right and wrong in equal measure.

What stands out

Trevante Rhodes' character is immediately the most interesting figure as soon as he shows up, given his tough exterior, unexpectedly sweet demeanor, and the knowledge that he would still probably use force if needed. But Shamier Anderson's father character, initially strait-laced and polite, matches this energy with a surprising capacity for anger and violence. Together these performances are towering, but both still so tragic as they reveal the inner, scarred children behind all that bravado and swagger they project out into the world.

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