The Brothers

The Brothers follows four successful African-American friends in Los Angeles who have long relied on one another for advice about work, family and women. Jackson is a doctor, Derrick is a married banker, Brian is a lawyer who avoids commitment, and Terry is the group's self-described playboy. When Terry announces that he is getting engaged, the other three are forced to look honestly at their own relationships, including Jackson's cautious new romance with Denise, a photographer, and Derrick's strained marriage. The women in their lives push back against the men's assumptions about love.

Gary Hardwick directed and wrote the screenplay, and the film was released in March 2001. It was his first feature as director, following earlier work as a screenwriter. The cast is led by Morris Chestnut as Jackson, D.L. Hughley as Derrick, Bill Bellamy as Brian and Shemar Moore as Terry, with Tatyana Ali and Jenifer Lewis among the thirty-one credited performers. Made for about 6 million dollars, it took in roughly 28 million worldwide, a strong return for a modestly budgeted release.

On IMDb it holds 6.3 out of 10 from around 5,300 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.6 from a much smaller group of 58 voters. Those scores and the box office point to a film that found a solid audience without becoming a major crossover hit.