My Blind Brother

Name: My Blind Brother
Item: My Blind Brother
Rating: 3
Author: S. Jhoanna Robledo

Movie review by

S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media

Common Sense says

age 16+

(i)

Dramedy about adult siblings has language, drinking.

R
2016
90 minutes

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age 17+

Based on 1 review

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My Blind Brother

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A lot or a little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

Positive Messages

Being disabled doesn't necessarily mean you can't achieve your goals, but it's important to remember that it also doesn't give you permission to be inconsiderate to those around you.

Positive Role Models & Representations

Robbie, a blind man who raises money for charity, is beloved by almost everyone -- but they seem more interested in coddling him than in noticing that he's self-centered and inconsiderate. Meanwhile, his brother, Bill, is usually ignored, even though he sacrifices a lot to help Robbie achieve his goals.

Violence

Bickering between brothers.

Sex

A few scenes show people fooling around, including kissing and embracing in bed. One shot shows a naked woman, seen from behind.

Language

Frequent strong language, including "f--k," "s--t," "ass," "bitch," " j-zz," "goddamn," and "c--t."

Consumerism

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Several scenes show characters drinking in bars and at home, and sometimes they get pretty buzzed. A few characters also smoke weed a few times. One person refers to stronger drugs, including Klonopin.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that My Blind Brother focuses on adult siblings who fall for the same girl -- a rivalry that has a twist because one of them is blind and is used to being the center of attention. There are some uncomfortable yet deeply honest arguments as the brothers (played by Adam Scott and Nick Kroll) confront longstanding issues. You can also expect lots of swearing (including "s--t," "f--k," and "c--t"), plenty of drinking, and scenes that show people smoking pot. Some sequences feature people hooking up (nothing too graphic is shown), and there's a brief glimpse of a nude woman, seen from behind.

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What's the story?

In MY BLIND BRoTHER, Robbie (Adam Scott), who's blind, devotes much of his time to competing in endurance sports to raise money for charities that support the disabled. He's helped by Bill (Nick Kroll), his brother and long-suffering training partner. But Bill is starting to tire of living in Robbie's shadow, and their conflict gets even more contentious when they both fall for Rose (Jenny Slate).

Is it any good?

This romantic dramedy owes a big debt of gratitude to its three stars (Slate, Scott, and Kroll), who elevate the movie from being "pretty entertaining but forgettable" to "charming." Slate has a particularly difficult job: Rose is saddled with insecurities and self-scorn, which lead to more bad choices. But even though her decisions, which stem from pity, may seem specific to her situation (her need to rescue, when what she really needs is to figure out a way to save herself), they have a universal quality that means other self-doubters in the audience will empathize.

Scott and Kroll's chemistry works to elevate the film's sometimes dreary and mean material into a study of sibling-hood and duty, a complex relationship that's laden with guilt. It's actually kind of strange, that despite its complicated examinations of human nature, My Blind Brother still feels superficial -- it's a meditative comedy without the depth to adequately mine its potential.

Talk to your kids about ...

Families can talk about how My Blind Brother portrays the sibling relationship. Is it relatable? Realistic? Do Bill and Robbie's parents treat them differently? Why?
What does the movie say about living with a disability? How is Robbie's life shaped by his blindness? What about Bill's?
How does the movie depict drinking and drug use? Do they have consequences? Why does that matter?