The film opens like a children's Saturday afternoon special from 1974 -- something that might come on after Electric Company. A smiling adult teaches a would-be bad kid an important life lesson. But this neighborhood is in Detroit, and 5th Avenue ain't nothin' like Sesame Street -- shot's fired, nice old lady down.

The woman's murder brings together four now-adult orphans who were raised as brothers. "Who would want to kill the sweetest woman in the world?" The brothers take a few moments in reflective nostalgia, then springboard into a film of head banging revenge.

Oddly, this rush to judgment is tempered with a murder-mystery plot line. But these guys aren’t cops, so they don’t have to ask nicely. Hence their questions get answered really quick. Surprisingly, the bad guys under pressure don't seem to lie.

Well acted for the most part (Wahlberg is strong), the film lags a bit in direction. Apparently, the filmmakers try to recreate that rickety, cheesy 70's cop tv/film style. And pretty much they hit it, with all its glorious imperfections: awkward cuts, inconsistency in tone, and hokie canned music. If you long for that kind of thing, you'll have a blast. Overall, the bond and interesting interactions between the brothers keeps the film above water while Wahlberg and his character drive it forward. However, besides the questionably noble effort to slaughter the scumbags that killed their mother, the film fails to deliver any deeper message despite such an interesting initial premise.

This film screened at Yelm Cinemas.