Sibling rivalry is usually messy. It involves stolen clothes, childhood grudges, and maybe a bit of shouting during the holidays. But in the 2016 indie film My Blind Brother, director Sophie Goodhart takes that tension and pushes it into a territory that is both deeply uncomfortable and hilariously honest. Most romantic comedies play it safe. They give us a hero to root for and a villain to hate. This movie doesn't do that. Instead, it gives us two brothers who are kind of awful to each other in a way that feels incredibly real.
If you haven't seen it, the premise sounds like a typical feel-good drama. Nick Kroll plays Bill, the "slack" brother who lives in the shadow of Robbie, played by Adam Scott. Robbie is an overachiever. He’s a local celebrity. He runs marathons and competes in swims for charity. He also happens to be blind. But here’s the twist: Robbie isn't a saint. He’s actually a bit of a narcissist who uses his disability to guilt-trip Bill into being his permanent support system.
It’s a weirdly refreshing take.
Usually, cinema treats disability with these heavy, hushed tones of reverence. My Blind Brother says "no thanks" to that. It treats Robbie like a whole person, which means he gets to be a jerk just like anyone else. When both brothers fall for the same woman, Rose (Jenny Slate), the movie stops being a story about "overcoming" and starts being a chaotic exploration of guilt and mediocrity.
The Subversion of the "Inspirational" Narrative
We’ve all seen the movies where a person with a disability is there purely to teach the able-bodied protagonist how to love life again. It’s a trope often called "inspiration porn." Sophie Goodhart, who wrote and directed the film based on her earlier short, actively deconstructs this. Robbie is the one doing the "inspiring" things—the athletic feats, the public speaking—but he’s doing them for the applause.
He’s addicted to the validation.
Bill, on the other hand, is the one actually doing the work. He’s the sighted guide. He’s the one making sure Robbie doesn’t run into a tree while Robbie gets all the high-fives from the townspeople. You feel Bill's resentment. It’s palpable. Kroll plays Bill with this slumped-shoulder weariness that anyone who has ever felt "second best" will immediately recognize. Honestly, the movie works because it acknowledges a taboo thought: you can love someone and still find them incredibly annoying, regardless of their physical circumstances.
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The casting here is key. Adam Scott has this specific ability to play "smug" better than almost anyone in Hollywood. He makes Robbie’s blindness a part of his character, not the whole character. He uses his cane like a scepter. It’s a brilliant performance because he doesn't ask for your pity. He demands your attention.
Why Rose is the Perfect Catalyst
Then there’s Rose. Jenny Slate is the queen of playing characters who are slightly falling apart at the seams. Rose is grieving after a weird accident involving her ex-boyfriend, and she’s drowning in guilt. When she meets Bill at a bar, they have a genuine, awkward connection. But then, through a series of "only in a movie" coincidences, she ends up volunteering to help Robbie.
She doesn't know they are brothers.
This setup could feel like a cheap sitcom plot, but the dialogue keeps it grounded. The chemistry between Slate and Kroll is messy. They aren't "movie stars" falling in love; they’re two people who feel like losers finding some common ground in their shared sense of inadequacy.
Humor in the Uncomfortable
Is it okay to laugh at a blind man getting punched in the face?
My Blind Brother argues that if he’s being an idiot, then yes. There is a specific scene involving a boat and a physical altercation that is peak cringe-comedy. It works because the movie has established that these characters are equals in their flaws. The film’s humor comes from the friction between how society thinks we should treat Robbie and how Bill actually treats him.
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The supporting cast helps round out the world. Zoe Kazan shows up as Rose’s roommate, and she’s essentially the voice of reason, though even she is sucked into the vortex of Rose's indecision. The movie doesn't rely on big set pieces. It relies on small, biting moments of dialogue.
- The pacing: It’s a brisk 90 minutes.
- The setting: A dreary, grey-skied Ohio town that perfectly matches Bill’s outlook on life.
- The stakes: They feel small but life-altering for the people involved.
There's no grand orchestral swell at the end. There’s no magical cure. There is just the realization that being a "good person" is a lot more complicated than just checking boxes or running a race for charity.
Realism vs. Hollywood Gloss
Many critics compared this to the works of the Farrelly brothers, but that’s not quite right. While there is slapstick, the DNA of this film is much closer to 1970s character studies. It’s interested in the psychology of the "helper." Why does Bill stay? Why does he let Robbie walk all over him?
The film suggests that Bill uses Robbie’s blindness as an excuse for his own lack of ambition. If he’s busy helping Robbie, he doesn't have to try (and fail) at his own life. It’s a symbiotic relationship built on a foundation of mutual resentment. That’s a heavy theme for a comedy, but Goodhart balances it with a light touch.
Interestingly, the film received mixed reviews upon release. Some found the "meanness" of the characters off-putting. But in 2026, looking back, that’s exactly what makes it stand out. In a sea of polished, focus-grouped content, this movie feels like it was written by someone who actually knows how families talk when the cameras aren't rolling. It’s cynical, sure. But it’s also strangely hopeful about the idea that even deeply flawed people can find a way to coexist.
Breaking Down the Dynamics
The movie highlights a very specific type of "charity fatigue." Robbie is constantly "achieving," and the town is constantly "applauding." But the film asks: who is the charity actually for? Robbie gets the glory. Bill gets the exhaustion. Rose gets the guilt. It’s a triangle where no one is winning, despite Robbie literally winning races.
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When the truth finally comes out—as it must in any rom-com—the fallout isn't a clean break. It’s a muddy, awkward confrontation on a beach. It’s not about the girl, ultimately. It’s about the brothers finally seeing each other for who they really are. Robbie has to admit he needs Bill, and Bill has to admit he’s been using Robbie’s needs as a shield against the real world.
Essential Takeaways for Movie Lovers
If you are planning to watch or re-watch My Blind Brother, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience. This isn't a film you watch for the cinematography or the plot twists. You watch it for the performances.
- Watch the background: Adam Scott stays in character as a blind man even when he’s not the focus of the shot. His physicality is incredibly consistent.
- Listen to the silence: Some of the funniest moments are the pauses after someone says something horrific that they instantly regret.
- Pay attention to Bill’s apartment: It tells you everything you need to know about his mental state before he says a single word.
The film is currently available on various streaming platforms like Amazon Prime and Apple TV, depending on your region. It’s the perfect "Sunday afternoon" movie—low stakes, high relatability, and short enough that it doesn't overstay its welcome.
How to Apply the Movie's Logic to Real Life
While it's a comedy, there is a core truth in the film about setting boundaries. Bill's inability to say "no" to Robbie is what causes the explosion. If you find yourself in a "helper" role where you feel more like a prop than a person, the movie is a cautionary tale.
Next Steps for Content Enthusiasts:
- Audit your "Inspiration" intake: If you enjoy the subversion in this film, look into the "social model of disability" to understand why many people in the community prefer Robbie's "jerk" portrayal over the "saintly" trope.
- Explore Sophie Goodhart’s other work: Check out her original short film of the same name to see how the story evolved into a feature.
- Compare with "The Fundamentals of Caring": If you liked the tone of this, watch the Paul Rudd film for another take on disability and humor that avoids the usual cliches.
- Analyze the "Beta Hero": Use Bill’s character as a case study in the "beta male" archetype in 2010s independent cinema.
Ultimately, the movie reminds us that we all have blind spots—not just the physical kind, but the emotional ones that keep us from seeing how we hurt the people we love. It’s a small film with a big, messy heart. Stop looking for a perfect hero and just enjoy the disaster.