The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

CinemaSerf

6.0

Jan 29, 2025

Brothers "Jack" (Jeff Bridges) and "Frank" (Beau Bridges) eek out a living playing to audiences of largely disinterested punters in generic jazz cafés and clubs, telling the same jokes and positively exuding mediocrity. The latter man is the grown up of the pair, married with kids and he has what passes for the business head between them. The former is more of a loose cannon attached only to his brother and his dog. Their doldrums seem set to consign them to the musical dustbin until they encounter the sparky "Susie" (Michelle Pfeiffer) on their search for a singer. She doesn't exactly look th…

"The Fabulous Baker Boys" is a directionless meander through the flawed lives of the central characters Jack and Frank and it is occasioned by their decision to freshen up their cheesy and jaded cocktail lounge act by introducing a sultry female singer. The film effortlessly captures the quiet desperation of the eternally small time careers of the Baker boys as they monotonously tour around a ceaseless succession of out of the way second rate venues. They are trapped in such places and like so many of us they have gradually convinced themselves they are doing well in a tough business which off…