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a14 people & arts
Thursday 29 sepTember 2022
'Bros' makes rom-com history and then joins in it

By MARK KENNEDY of non-hetero themes, like
AP Entertainment Writer with the fictional bisexual
"Bros," the latest romantic titles "Christmas With Either"
comedy to hit theaters, is and the group rom-com "A
absolutely revolutionary. Holly, Polly Christmas."
And totally conventional. Gay stereotypes also get
It's a film where both ex- celebrated and pierced
tremes can be true at the — endless voguing, Grin-
same time. dr photos, "Schitt's Creek"
The revolutionary part love, Barbra Streisand ado-
comes from it being the first ration and internal divisions
gay rom-com produced among the LGBTQ com-
and distributed by a major munity. Deborah Messing
American studio. And yet from "Will & Grace" makes
it hews very closely to the a hilarious cameo ("I am
classic rom-com formula, not every gay man's best
right down to one of the This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Billy Eichner, Harvey Fierstein and Luke friend!" she wails) and Kai-
star-crossed lovers sudden- Macfarlane in a scene from "Bros." tlin Jenner is mocked as
ly realizing he's in love and Associated Press a "trans-terrorist." A key
sprinting to reunite with the moment is when Eichner
other as music swells. had a serious romantic re- him and a hunky meat- a very funny, awkward pierces the inclusive slogan
That's the genius of "Bros" lationship. The script by head — played understat- four-way with a random "Love Is Love" with his re-
— telling LGBTQ stories Nicholas Stoller and Eich- ed and soulfully by Luke guy named Steve. In many tort "No, it's not." Gay love,
and wrapping it in a famil- ner leans into the schtick Macfarlane — it's clear that parts, it feels very much like he says, has different ob-
iar storyline that everyone Eichner has built as a loud, opposites attract. Our hero every lingering, passion- stacles and complications
can relate to. At one point, opinionated comic on "Billy has a sunken chest, an un- ate kiss is blissfully punching and ramifications.
we see our hero watching on the Street" but creates wavering belief that Abra- through some sort of wall. In his love affair, identity be-
"When Harry Met Sally" and room for a wounded, inse- ham Lincoln was a clos- Stoller, who also directs, and comes the drama. Bobby
we quietly cheer as the cure hero. eted gay man and a high Eichner load the script with is fiercely proud of being
universe of rom-coms just Eichner is navigating the voice; the muscly hunk is a plenty of gentle humor at gay and not apologizing
got another satellite. Some fraught world of mod- fan of Garth Brooks, hock- non-gay targets. "Gay sex for it, while his love inter-
people may complain that ern dating in the New ey and "The Office." Yet he was more fun when straight est is more quiet about his
it fits too neatly into the York City gay community, can also see to the core of people were uncomfort- sexuality, fatefully asking his
straight-people film formu- which includes graceless our hero: "Getting angry at able," says one character. lover to tone it down one
la, but revolutions weren't app hookups, steroid use, things is your brand," he tells And a couple of recurring night while meeting his par-
built in a movie. dance-club ogling, legions him. The filmmakers make gags involve straight ac- ents. "A little less yourself,"
Billy Eichner stars as Bobby of commitment-phobes sure "Bros" isn't a sanitized tors winning awards for he explains. "I want them to
Lieber, a slightly nerdy gay and an emphasis on the view of gay love, earning playing gay — Benedict like you." Everyone will un-
podcaster-turned-museum physical and superficial — an R-rating for nudity, sex, Cumberbatch, look out! derstand what that means.
executive who has hit the so just like straights! lusty kissing and group en- — and the Hallmark Cha- That's straight out of a John
age of 40 without having When sparks fly between counters like throuples and nel's supposed embrace Hughes rom-com.q

Rihanna to headline the next Super Bowl halftime show

Apple Music. Rihanna post- turned down a similar op- NFL of colluding to keep
ed an image on Instagram portunity for the 2019 Super him out of the league in a
of an arm outstretched Bowl that was ultimately case that was eventually
holding an NFL football. headlined by Maroon 5. settled in early 2019.
"Rihanna is a generational At the time, many artists In 2019, the NFL partnered
talent, a woman of humble voiced support for Kaepe- with Roc Nation (which
beginnings who has sur- rnick, the former San Fran- manages Rihanna) to help
passed expectations at ev- cisco 49ers quarterback pick performers for the Su-
ery turn," said Jay-Z, whose who protested police bru- per Bowl and strategize
Roc Nation is an executive tality against Black people on the halftime show. The
producer of the show, in a and minorities by kneeling widely acclaimed 2022
statement. "A person born during the national anthem halftime show featured Dr.
on the small island of Bar- in 2016. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem,
bados who became one of "I couldn't dare do that. Kendrick Lamar and Mary
the most prominent artists For what?" Rihanna told J. Blige.
Rihanna attends an event for her lingerie line Savage X Fenty
at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on on Aug. 28, ever. Self-made in business Vogue in 2019. "Who gains With sales of more than 250
2021. and entertainment." from that? Not my people. million records worldwide,
Associated Press The Super Bowl will take I just couldn't be a sellout. Rihanna ranks as one of
place at State Farm Sta- I couldn't be an enabler. the best-selling female art-
By JAKE COYLE perform in the 2019 Super dium in Glendale, Arizona, There's things within that ists ever. Her last album was
AP Film Writer Bowl halftime show out of on Feb. 12. After years of organization that I do not 2016's "Anti." Rihanna last
NEW YORK (AP) — Rihanna solidarity with Colin Kae- Pepsi's sponsorship, the up- agree with at all, and I was performed publicly at the
will take center stage at pernick, will headline the coming halftime show will not about to go and be of Grammy Awards in 2018.
February's Super Bowl half- 2023 Super Bowl, the NFL be sponsored by Apple service to them in any way," In the years since, Rihanna
time show. announced Sunday along Music. she said of the league. has occasionally teased
The singer, who declined to with Jay-Z's Roc Nation and Rihanna earlier said she Kaepernick accused the her music return. q