Review: Dark comedy ‘My Blind Brother’ ably balances love triangle

The complex bonds of fraternal love get a major workout in “My Blind Brother,” a warm, multi-layered, darkly funny film that finds wry slacker Bill (Nick Kroll) and his blind, golden boy-athlete brother, Robbie (Adam Scott), falling for the same woman: the endearingly conflicted Rose (Jenny Slate).

The beleaguered Bill, who’s long served as Robbie’s right-hand man, met Rose first, unbeknownst to the colossally self-involved Robbie. But Rose, reeling from the part she fears she played in the accidental death of her ex-boyfriend, is desperate to prove she’s a good person. So she volunteers to assist a blind man, who turns out to be Robbie.

Romance blooms and the guilt-laden Rose can’t say no to the dynamic Robbie. Meanwhile, Bill backs off from soulmate Rose — until he no longer can. Cue the battle of the bros.

Writer-director Sophie Goodhart, who based the film on her 2003 Palme d’Or-nominated short, has crafted three cleverly flawed and dimensional lead characters, all vividly brought to life by their astute players.

Humor here, whether situational or emotionally-based, proves a smart balance of grounded and loopy. Even the inevitable “blind people” jokes work to good-naturedly amuse rather than offend.

The film’s third act, in which the layers of this bittersweet onion are stirringly peeled away, provides a deceptively slight tale with satisfying heft.

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‘My Blind Brother’

MPAA Rating: R, for language, some sexuality and drug use

Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Playing: In limited release; also on VOD

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