The Brothers Solomon (2007) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

The brothers decide to have a baby because their father Ed falls into a coma. Believing that fulfilling Ed's longstanding wish for a grandchild might awaken him, they embark on their quest as a desperate attempt to save their father.

Foreshadowing: Ed's love for his sons and his mention of wanting grandchildren is hinted at early in the film, making his coma a catalyst for the brothers' unusual mission.

• coma
• grandchild
• father
• ed
• wake up

Dean's promising romantic connection ends tragically when his date is killed in a sudden bus accident. This devastating event adds to the brothers' string of bad luck in their romantic pursuits.

• dean
• date
• bus accident
• death

After attending a prenatal class, Janine decides she wants to take on the parenting gig entirely by herself. Her icy demeanor towards the brothers hardens, leading her to believe she would be better off raising the child without their involvement.

Foreshadowing: Janine's initial reluctance and her distance hint at her desire for independence in the parenting process.

• janine
• surrogate
• parenting
• prenatal class

The brothers have a passionate confrontation after Janine announces she wants to raise the child alone. The argument forces them to confront John's unreciprocated feelings for Tara and their competing desires, ultimately leading to reconciliation and a stronger brotherly bond.

Foreshadowing: John's misunderstanding about Tara's feelings builds tension throughout their journey, setting up the explosive argument.

• argument
• reconciliation
• brothers
• janine
• tara

The brothers devise an elaborate scheme involving a giant sky banner appealing to Janine's emotions. This heartfelt gesture moves Janine, and she agrees to collaborate on the parenting adventure with Dean and John.

• sky banner
• janine
• win over
• gesture

Years after the brothers' journey, their newborn child miraculously says its first word, "grandpa", while gazing directly at Ed, who remains in a coma. This magical moment unexpectedly catalyzes Ed's awakening, uniting the family.

Foreshadowing: The entire quest was driven by the brothers' belief that fulfilling Ed's wish for a grandchild could wake him, making this moment the fulfillment of that hope.

• baby
• first word
• grandpa
• coma
• wake up
• ed

Years after their tumultuous journey, John and Dean launch a new business called "Solomon Family Baby-Proofing," dedicated to providing safety equipment for expecting parents. This venture symbolizes their growth and commitment to their new roles as fathers.

• business
• baby-proofing
• future
• fathers

John wrongly assumes throughout the film that Tara is romantically interested in him, but she is merely being friendly. He must grapple with the painful reality of letting go of his hopes for Tara, and they do not end up together as a couple.

Foreshadowing: Tara's kindness in checking on Ed is misinterpreted by John as romantic interest, creating ongoing misunderstanding.

• tara
• john
• relationship
• rejection

The brothers attempt to pursue traditional adoption but their unconventional request meets a brick wall at the local adoption agency. Their unusual circumstances and lack of social skills work against them, forcing them to seek alternative routes to parenthood.

• adoption
• agency
• rejected
• surrogacy

John and Dean grew up in the frigid isolation of the Arctic under the watchful eye of their single father Ed. This sheltered upbringing means they never truly encountered the outside world until adulthood, leading to their endless bad luck in romantic pursuits and general social incompetence.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that the brothers' remote Arctic childhood is the root of their social struggles.

• arctic
• upbringing
• socially awkward
• father ed