Review of The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) by Rainer K — 13 May 2012
I'm actually not very keen on Jeff Bridges, but now and then, like in the Baker Boys film he's ok. Jeff and his real-life brother Beau are casted perfectly as two quite different brothers struggling as musicians.
Beau plays Frank, the voice of reason who runs "the business" and tries to earn a living with his music to provide for his wife and two children.
Jeff plays Jack, the more talented of the two, who has somehow accepted that he will never achieve more success and so continues playing with his mediocre brother in various shabby bars.
When singer Susie joins the two and the group starts to gain popularity again it also creates tension between the brothers culminating in some dramatic though predictable moments.
Only at the end The Fabulous Baker Boys' drama worked for me. For about an hour only the neat music sets the mood and kept my interest onto the point where stuff happens at all. Also it lacks a genuine climax, Baker Boys makes up for it with a wonderful ending.
Beside Jeff Bridges' noteworthy performance I couldn't track anything outstanding. Maybe it aged pretty bad or just never had the right knack but Baker Boys is mostly a bittersweet, melancholy 80s drama without much bite. Don't be deceived by the high RT rating - this is NOT a great film. There's just not too much to hate about it either.
This review of The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) was written by Rainer K on 13 May 2012.
The Fabulous Baker Boys has generally received positive reviews.
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