Watch Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love is a 2015 drama movie directed by Jamal Hill, and stars Keke Palmer, Cory Hardrict, and Romeo Miller. The movie is set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and revolves around the lives of the Mercer family and their interactions with each other and with the larger community. The movie opens with a scene of basketball practice, where Chris (played by Romeo Miller) is a star player. Chris is a highly talented basketball player, and it becomes clear right away that his father, Joe Mercer (Eric D. Hill Jr.), has high ambitions for him. Joe is a former basketball player who was not able to make it big, and now he wants his son to live his unfulfilled dreams. Chris also has a younger brother, June (played by Cory Hardrict), who is struggling to find his own identity and place in the world.

The Mercer family lives in a rough neighborhood, and there is a lot of violence and crime around them. June has a crush on a neighbor girl named Keke (played by Keke Palmer), and he spends a lot of time trying to impress her. Keke is a strong and independent young woman who dreams of becoming a music producer. She is also dealing with her own struggles, including her father's drug addiction.

As the story progresses, we see the relationships within the Mercer family become complicated. June struggles with conflicts between his loyalty to his family and his desire to pursue his own dreams. Chris has to make tough choices about whether to follow his father's ambitions or to forge his own path. And Joe Mercer's past is revealed, exposing the sources of his own hopes and fears.

The movie explores themes of family dynamics, ambition, love, and community. Through the interactions between the Mercer family members and the people around them, we see the importance of support and of personal agency. The film also shows the ways in which poverty and violence can limit opportunities and create cycles of pain and trauma.

The acting in Brotherly Love is strong, especially from Keke Palmer and Cory Hardrict, who deliver nuanced and engaging performances. Romeo Miller is also convincing in his role as Chris, though his character can sometimes feel a bit underdeveloped. The other actors, including Macy Gray, Malik Yoba, and Faizon Love, also provide solid performances.

The cinematography in the movie is quite good, with a good balance between close-ups and wider shots. The use of color and light is effective in conveying the mood and emotion of each scene. The soundtrack also features a mix of hip-hop and R&B tracks that help to set the tone and atmosphere of the film.

Brotherly Love is not without its flaws, however. The plot can feel somewhat contrived at times, especially in the relationships between characters. Some of the dialogue can also feel a bit on-the-nose, especially in moments where characters have to spell out their emotions and motivations. The movie also relies on some familiar tropes of urban dramas, such as the dangerous neighborhood, the drug-addicted parent, and the aspiring musician.

Overall, though, Brotherly Love is a solid drama with strong performances and solid technical execution. It tackles important issues and explores complex relationships in a way that is engaging and emotionally resonant.

Brotherly Love is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 29 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.