Revenge is bittersweet and very bloody in John Singleton's latest film, Four Brothers.

Sainted Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan) was a social worker with a heart of gold. She spent her life finding good homes for foster children and when she couldn't find a home for four incorrigible young boys, she adopted them herself. Unfortunately for Ms. Mercer, she enters the wrong convenient store at the wrong time and ends up getting killed in an instance of 'gang violence.' After years apart, her four sons reunite to attend her funeral. The oldest Bobby Mercer (Mark Wahlberg) is a tough guy who's recently been released from prison. Jeremiah Mercer (Andre Benjamin otherwise known as Andre 3000 from Outkast) is a family man and former union organizer who dreams of revitalizing his community. Tyrese Gibson plays the third brother, the ladies' man, Angel. The youngest brother Jack Mercer (Garrett Hedlund) is a wannabe rock star. Of course, it doesn't take much to realize that the shooting wasn't gang-related but an execution. But who would want to kill a nice old lady? That's what the brothers want to find out.

All four brothers give strong performances but especially an intense and brooding Mark Wahlberg and Andre Benjamin as the reluctant vigilante, Jeremiah. Terrence Howard is good in his supporting role but after seeing him, and Taraji P. Henson, in Hustle & Flow (produced by Singleton) you get the feeling that their talents are being wasted in their small supporting roles here. Henson is featured in several scenes as Jeremiah's wife. Giving a compelling performance is Chiwetel Ejiofor as crime boss Victor Sweet. On the other hand, watching Sofia Vergara as Angel's, hot-looking, hot-headed Puerto Rican love interest was distracting to the point of annoyance. Her crazy, whining, tantrum- throwing performance was the equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard.  

The story moves along quickly and has some nice little twists and turns along the way. While the brothers are motivated by the desire to bring their mother's killers to justice, the film takes the time to develop each of the brothers individually and takes pains to make their bond seem real. 

Singleton piles on the action: fist-fights and gun battles culminating in a long car chase through the dark, snowy, icy streets of Detroit. These brothers show no mercy and neither does Singleton.

Revenge. Action. Attitude. Four Brothers delivers on its promise.