Grade: C+ | Genre: Drama Summary: If your head can check out on this one, there is more than enough to keep you entertained, but that's really the problem isn't it. This is a John Singleton film. You shouldn't have to checkout when it comes to sitting down to the work of a quality filmmaker. After watching the incredibly gripping Boyz n the Hood, who would have imagined that talented director, John Singleton, would go on to make swill like 2 Fast 2 Furious. Really I guess its no worse than Deniro hocking credit cards or Pacino having his name plastered all over Gigli. Singleton's catalog since Boyz has been marred by disappointment more so than bombs. Films like Higher Learning and Poetic Justice were decent selections, yet ever since the soul of this potentially brilliant filmmaker has gone missing somewhere during production. Four Brothers follows suit, trying to show heart and the ties of brotherhood, but it only gets muddled in the numbing action during the shoot 'em up sequences.

The first scene of the film sets the tone and queues the plot. Evelyn Mercer ducks into the local grocery, doubling as a convenience store, to score a turkey for her Thanksgiving festivities. A couple gang bangers burst through the doors to rob the place. No one is left to tell the tale after they trail off into the recesses of the cold Detroit night. Her four boys come back into town for the funeral. They're brothers by circumstance instead of by birth as their skin quickly tells you. They were all foster children who were the worst runts of the litter. Evelyn couldn't find homes for them so her home became there's. The color of one another's skin is transparent as they treat each other as blood and will guard of their brother regardless how badly the deck is stacked against him. So its not long before you start to wonder what are a few hard hitting fellas to do when you take out their mom? Ah, revenge is such a bitter pill.

Ok, you take the little one. I'm getting that bastard who put Grecian gel in my hair. Four Brothers Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Andre Benjamin, Tyrese Gibson, Garrett Hedlund & Sofia Vergara Director: John Singleton View the Trailer (Quicktime) Related Articles Crash Common - Be Assault on Precinct 13 Email this article to a friend Curves Duluth Discover a Gym Where Women Can Change their Lives 30 Minutes at a Time www.curvesduluth.com Norah Jones Not to Late at Amazon Low prices on popular products. Qualified orders over $25 ship free www.amazon.com Wicked Tickets Find Sold Out Theatre Tickets To the Hottest Shows on Broadway www.VandelayTickets.com

While there is no question that Singleton can give us a convincing look at the gritty streets of Detroit, the story seems too weak and contrived to really hold water. It seems to have a crisis of genre spinning throughout. Does it want to be an action flick, a hardy suspense, a stirring drama perhaps? Who knows? We get the sampler platter of all of these without feeling any of them. Our performances are decent. Marky Mark seems to be refining his tough guy act. All I want to know is how many hours a day does he have to workout to maintain those guns? Guess I need to brush up on my Men's Health. Unfortunately, there's nothing here to really challenge him like he had with the career making role of Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights or even his nutty rage filled lout from I Heart Huckabees. Surprisingly, the best acting comes from our resident Outkast, Andre Benjamin. As the successful brother who stayed behind in Detroit to take care of his mother and make his mark, he really shines. There is a real flavor and emotion to his portrayal of Jeremiah. Oh and per his media greasing swing by Jon Stewart's pad, Outkast has a new album in the works as we speak which is good because I'm sure your Polaroid picture shaker is in need of some fresh tunes.

If your head can check out on this one, there is more than enough to keep you entertained, but that's really the problem isn't it. This is a John Singleton film. You shouldn't have to checkout when it comes to sitting down to the work of a quality filmmaker. This feels like a cleverly disguised paycheck film for all involved. Regardless, I do applaud Singleton's efforts to keep racial issues in the forefront and trying to show us how the world can be colorblind if we want it badly enough. He knows there are hurdles and prejudices that block our way, but with work and an open mind we can tear down all those self-made walls. I just wish the rest of the film had the same fortitude as his high ideals.