Netflix’s ‘Little Brother’ First Reactions Are In — See How John Cena’s and Eric André’s Fared With Critics
Netflix’s new comedy Little Brother has arrived, and the first reactions are starting to reveal what critics think about the John Cena and Eric André-led movie. While some reviewers praised the chemistry between the two stars, others felt the film struggled with its story and humor.
Directed by Matt Spicer and written by Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, Little Brother follows a successful realtor whose carefully controlled life is turned upside down when a strange man from his past suddenly appears. The two characters are connected through the same “Big Brother-Little Brother” mentoring program, but their very different personalities create chaos when they reunite.
The movie stars John Cena, Eric André, Michelle Monaghan, and Christopher Meloni. It is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on June 26, giving viewers a new comedy option featuring two actors known for very different styles.
Early reviews show that critics are divided on whether Little Brother delivers enough laughs. Some reviewers enjoyed the unusual pairing of Cena and André, while others felt the movie relied too much on familiar comedy ideas.
Alex Harrison from Screen Rant gave the film a negative review, scoring it 4/10. Harrison felt that the comedy did not land often enough and said the movie became difficult to sit through. “In the end, I think I spent less time laughing than I did waiting for the film to be over,” the critic wrote.
However, other reviewers found more positives, especially in Eric André’s performance. M.N. Miller from Geek Vibes Nation gave the film a fresh score of 6/10 and praised André’s energy despite the familiar setup. “Eric André is hilarious in the new Netflix streaming comedy Little Brother, even though the premise is as recycled as they come,” Miller said.
Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critics was less impressed, giving the movie 2/5. Hopson criticized the overall experience and suggested that viewers may quickly move on after watching it. “On Netflix, Little Brother can be just another movie one tries out, realizes it’s awful, and then quietly gives a ‘thumbs down’ when prompted,” he wrote.
Brian Orndorf from Blu-ray.com also gave the movie a negative review, saying Cena and André work well together but are held back by weak material. According to Orndorf, the actors have good chemistry, but the script does not give them enough strong moments.
On the more positive side, Tessa Smith from Mama’s Geeky enjoyed the relationship between the two leads. She praised the fun energy between Cena and André, even while admitting the story is predictable. “It might be silly and predictable, but John Cena and Eric Andre’s undeniable chemistry makes it a whole lot of fun to watch,” Smith said.
The early reactions suggest that Little Brother may depend heavily on whether viewers connect with Cena and André’s comedy styles. Fans who enjoy unusual character pairings and Eric André’s wild sense of humor may find plenty to enjoy, while others may feel the movie follows a familiar formula.
With its Netflix release, Little Brother will soon have the chance to find its audience beyond critics. Whether it becomes a popular streaming comedy or a forgettable release will depend on how viewers respond once they get a chance to watch it.
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