You're his brother: Harrelson and McConaughey made a parody of themselves
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are blood brothers, not just friends. The plot of the new quasi-documentary series "Brothers" is based on this rumor, which the artists themselves once dismissed. Here, the "real" Harrelson is trying to secretly take a sample of McConaughey's DNA for a test, and McConaughey himself is too busy with political plans and raising his son to pay attention to this. Balancing between truth and fiction, the eight-episode sitcom brings to the point of absurdity stereotypes about stars and specifically about McConaughey, Harrelson and their famous three-decade friendship. "Izvestia" tells us why this is homeric funny, even to those who can hardly imagine who Matt and Woody are.
The main gossip about Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey
""Based on a real rumor""—every episode of The Brothers series begins with this title, written in huge letters. That's what it's about. Harrelson and McConaughey have been family friends for many years. One day they were vacationing together, and suddenly McConaughey's mother (everyone calls her Ma Mac) said that she had known Harrelson Sr. in the 1970s. And she even hinted that she was more than familiar.
Matt and Woody were worried—and immediately told the press about it. Considering that friends are constantly playing pranks on each other and others, it is possible that all this is just a hoax. Anyway, for several years now, they have been asked about this story in every interview, and the actors constantly answer that McConaughey does not want to undergo a DNA test and find out if they are the children of the same father. This, by the way, is indirectly indicated by the external similarity of friends, whom even their relatives confuse in some old photographs. All the tabloids have already discussed the gossip several times, explaining to readers that McConaughey simply does not want to injure himself with the thought that his father, an influential businessman and public figure, was not really a real father. It should also be added that Charles Harrelson was in prison for murder, and the thought of this may stop McConaughey.
Whether this is true or a long-running joke, we're unlikely to find out anytime soon, but Apple seized on the story and invited McConaughey and Harrelson to play "fictional versions" of themselves in the series. And tell them about how they found out about a possible relationship and what incredible events followed. But at the same time, it's important not to explain where the fiction is and where the truth is, but to make everything look like it's at least a docudrama. The result of the experiment is released on Apple on September 23. There will be eight episodes of a little over twenty minutes, but very intense. And really funny ones.
Why you should watch the TV series "Brothers"
Making a mockumentary about a star is not such a new idea. For example, in "I'm Still Here," Joaquin Phoenix pretended that he had actually decided to give up acting and become a rapper. And Kim Ki-duk in "Ariran" played a depressed director so convincingly that you believe him until the very end. At the end of the film, Kim Ki—duk commits suicide - and we realize that it was all a hoax.
The difference is that "Brothers" doesn't pretend to be a documentary project at all. At least because the action takes place as if today, and the information about the connection of McConaughey's mother with Harrelson's father is still unknown to anyone. The entire first episode is dedicated to the circumstances of this sensation. It's as if Harrelson and his family break into the McConaughey ranch at the most inopportune moment and make it clear that he's here for a long time. This is where Ma Mak reports on the events of the long past. Harrelson and his daughter immediately begin surreptitiously trying to get Matt's biomaterials for DNA testing, while Matt himself remains awake for the time being. In parallel, several more storylines are being launched, many of which are directly related to the "real rumor".
The actors' self-irony can only be envied. For example, McConaughey portrays an egocentric, narcissistic, and not too smart alpha male who fancies himself a great philosopher. The on-screen Matt is ready to spend hours giving out banal maxims "for life", teaching his family and everyone he meets. He is terribly annoyed that Woody has been staying with him for so long, but he needs support in his new venture: McConaughey wants to become governor of Texas and is preparing for the election. He gets offended and pouts all the time, and one of the funniest jokes about him is the scene in his boudoir, filled with hundreds of bottles of cosmetics. It looks like the star regularly runs a marathon here.
Harrelson's image is the exact opposite. Woody has absolutely no contact with his wife and daughters. He behaves like an old hippie anarchist, lives with his family on a bus, does not respect anyone else's personal space at all, and is filled with all sorts of pacifist concepts that distinguish him as much as possible from Harrelson's most iconic character, Mickey from "Natural Born Killers." "I will not vote until every animal in the world has the right to vote," he proclaims, brandishing another bottle of beer. And then he literally floods the McConaughey site with sewage.
"The "chemistry" between McConaughey and Harrelson, which made "True Detective" a hit, is the main thing in the series. And here it is manifested in the endless misadventures of these two caricature friends, who turn into chaos any place they enter. Because they are self—confident nerds, whom only star status saves from prison (and even then not always). Both sing badly, fight badly, ride bulls terribly, meddle in the lives of their children and spoil their nascent relationships, they do not understand anything about their wives.
And everyone loves them anyway, even though the fans misinterpret the names of the films. It's not a big deal for Matthew and Woody, they're ready to tease each other themselves. "It's not a video, it's just manipulative AI garbage. And there's not a single fragment from "True Detective," Woody is outraged when he watches Matthew's campaign video made up of movie trailers. "Because he played a completely crazy character there!" the consultant explains. ""You have two outstanding actors next to you: an Oscar winner and... have you forgotten what it's called when you haven't been given anything?"" Matthew shames his best friend's son. "It's called "nominee,"" Woody replies gloomily. It's very funny, even if you don't remember which films the actors were nominated for "Oscar" for.
This is a parable about two people who are as different as possible, who started saying "brother" to each other long before it came to having an affair with Ma Mak many years ago. On the other hand, superstars are well aware of why people will watch this series and Google the inconsistencies of the plot with reality. There is an episode in which Woody and Matt decide to give a concert, but in makeup, so that the cafe visitors would evaluate their talent impartially. But no one wants to listen to them, even for money. But when friends rip off wigs, people are ready to applaud any false note. There is a lot of truth about the series, but besides Woody and Matt, there is so much joy, love and friendship in it that you can forgive him a lot (and there is something to forgive).
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