The Urban Dictionary:
Describes the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males
Has “Brokeback Mountain” opened my eyes to see a dominate theme of bromance in film history or is it just because I am getting older. Not that some movies are quite obvious with the bromance via gay subtext or outright gay movies, but some are a bit more subtle.
We expect Superheros to be worshiped by the male and female sex equally. Watching “Superman” with the crowds getting all excited when he is near or sport films with a male lead being hero worshiped and envied we do see these solo characters without a strong and equal supportive male pal.
What makes a great Bromance film? Two main male characters that have shared goals, shared experiences, complimentary personalities, unspoken dedication, each other’s priorities and all females roles are either secondary or non existent.
10. Reservoir Dogs
- All male teamwork
- All male violent
- Frequent anti-women jokes
- Failure at their job (emasculating)
- Constant reference to their individual male member
Even the unimportant dialogs has a twinge of lovers tease:
Mr. White: Shit.
Mr. Blonde: Thanks.
Freddy Newandyke: What?
Mr Brown: Dick dick dick dick dick dick dick dick.
Nice Guy Eddie: Is that a toothpick in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? Mr. Blonde: …Its a toothpick you idiot..
9. MIB
- Will Smith’s character was chosen because of his ability, even more than those in the military? Someone’s got a man crush.
- All women are androgynous. Even the minor roles women are made stronger, demanding and in no need of a man.
- You are closeted completely from your family, friends and loved one.
- Male character have very similar names Kay and Jay, how cute.
- It is all about the job, partners and nothing else.
8. Point Break
- Have to learn to surf (be more of a man) to infiltrate
- Wimpy beach boy saved by butch handsome man
- Same beach boy (now with a gun) saved by same handsome man (in disguise)
- Look into my eyes . . . don’t shoot me.
- Sex Sky dive hold, landing on his back would have been sufficient.
7. Tango and Cash
- Argue like women
- Shower together with conversation, intimacy and sex references
- The butch/femme equation
- Prison companionship
6. Lethal Weapon
- Non related but have family like familiarity
- Sleeping, just sleeping, together is not a problem
- When they are individually in trouble, they do not call the authorities or confide in the women in their lives, they go to the each other.
- The entire Lethal Weapon series a true teamwork. “Never one without the other”
- Bathroom scene, willing to die with the man.
5. Rush Hour
The taglines in promotion of Rush Hour not only hints at a bromace but leaves out any doubt of a continual relationship.
The Fastest Hands In The East Meet The Biggest Mouth In The West.
Pals Forever. If they can get past today.
This classic is the interracial bromance, second to the television series ‘Scrubs’, with an tough Oriental and funny skinny African-American. Both have their assets that bring the duo to a full force in dealing with the bad guys. Yet both are just as comfortable fighting against each other like an old couple. Throughout the whole movie the couple like arguments are the most redeeming parts.
When they are not acting like an old couple or actually fighting bad guys, the bromance is obvious.
Lee: We can hang in my crib. I will show you my ‘hood.
Carter: I’ve been lookin’ for your sweet and sour chicken ass.
The sequels do not put a halt with the bromance and accelerates with more ‘tongue in cheek’ dialogs.
Lee: You are a civilian. In Hong Kong, *I* am Michael Jackson and *you* are Toto.
Lee: That’s my CD! Don’t you ever touch a Chinese man’s CD!Carter: Did you see that?
Lee: He likes you.
Carter: I ain’t shopping with you no more.Carter: Holy Mother of Jesus! She’s a man! I went to second base with a damn Frenchman!
Only can a bromance have the communication, forgiveness, macho love and hold all your secrets. Rush Hour is a humorous male to male non sexual chemistry, a bromance, maybe that is why is it funny.
4. Bad Boys
- Extreme loyalty
- More together than with the opposite sex
- Intimate conversations
- Will risk life and limb together
- Actually say the words love in reference to each other
Mike Lowrey: What the hell are you doin’?
Marcus Burnett: Keepin’ my shit quick.
Mike Lowrey: Oh, I see. You aren’t gettin any at home, so you got a lot of extra energy. Go ahead, burn it off.
3. Butch and Sundance
- Homoerotic subtexts
- Sex at the exact same time, even though it might be with women, they seem to get the urge just being together.
- Being bad together, seems to be a positive thing in these bromance movies
- Extreme loyalty
- Till the death together
- Butch / Sundance
2. Hot Fuzz
Nicholas Angel is the best cop in London as a result Angel’s superiors and peers are so jealous the only solution is to send him out to a small country town, Sandford. We find the secret the Nicholas success is simply to be a police officer all the time. Even his ex-girlfriend, Janine (Blanchett), says to Nicholas that he will never care about anyone as much as you care about police work.
Janine’s assessment was wrong, it just wasn’t going to a woman to ‘turn off’ his police brain. It was Danny Butterman, the overeager police officer who is obsessed the cop bromance movies. Danny’s only reference to being a ‘real officer’ is through the the movies, but it is on deaf ears. Nicholas has never seen a movie, ever.
With Nicholas never touching a pint with a ritual of cranberry juice, to the annoyance of the pub owners, is constantly prodded by Danny to put a few down. Danny not Janine has taken the energy to really get to know Nicholas with bombardment of questions about the most important aspect to Nicholas, police work.
Nicholas slips neatly in to a mentor while Danny gets under his skin a good foundation to a strong bromance.
Nicholas and Danny are returning from the pub, Danny like a nervous girl trys for male bonding nightcap;
Danny Butterman: Fancy a coffee?
Nicholas Angel: No thanks, don’t drink it.
Danny Butterman: Cup of tea?
Nicholas Angel: I don’t drink caffeine after midday.
Danny Butterman: A beer?
Nicholas Angel: [pauses] Yeah, go on then!
Danny takes this opportunity to show Nicholas his huge, massive DVD collection. When the doors open to the media closet Nicholas finally opens his eyes and sits up like a kid in a candy store. All those things Danny talks about are there in his collection.
1. Brian Song
Another promotional poster with each male looking into the same direction. This depicts to the movie goer that this is a true bromance and that the women in the film really are only secondary to the story. In fact, the movie could have been without casting one female and it would have retained the macho bromance only seen in sport films in the 70′s. Heck, “Brokeback Mountain” had female characters, but, the promotional posters of Brokeback had two cowboy hat wearing men looking in opposite directions. Posters alone, Brian Song is an absolute bromance compared to the clash of wills in Brokeback.
This the ultimate of bromance. The two male leads Brian and Gale, yes a man name Gale. The dialog is filled with ‘couple-like’ conversations.
Brian Piccolo: I think I know what’s wrong with me.
Gale Sayers: Yeah, what’s that?
Brian Piccolo: I’m pregnant.
What man would feel comfortable to have such a personal joke between them or even publicly saying you love one another?
Gale Sayers: I love Brian Piccolo
Not too certain how I found your blog but glad I did discover it. Think I was searching for something else on the search engines. Not certain I agree 100% with what you say, but have bookmaked and will pop back to read to see if you add any a lot more posts. Carry on the great work.
Thank You, Keep up the Great work