Step Brothers: funny and nothing else
When you combine Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, laughter is imminent. Consider their 2006 comedy Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. While Talladega Nights had a very believable storyline – NASCAR stars deal with the pressures of “the next big thing” in a French driver – Step Brothers did not.
The new Apatow Productions movie is hilarious but unbelievable in that two 40-year olds still live at home and act like they’re 14. Worse yet, the parents of either, uhh child, seems to be okay with their respective son’s lifestyle. Needless to say, one might find themselves uttering an exhausted “Oh come on. . .”
Though above all plot line critiques, which most of the target audiences assuredly are, the movie is hilarious.
Dale is played by Reilly. His father is a very successful M.D. and spends most of his days playing Guitar Hero. Dale’s dad falls in love with Brennan’s (played by Ferrell) mother and the two decide to live together, relegating the stay-at-home adults to live together and share a room.
The two spoiled step-brothers butt heads initially then combine their inadequate lives into mischief and comical routines. It’s Anchorman funny – most likely because the same director, Adam McKay, sets scenes where the actors are free to experiment with improvisation.
Downsides stem from the very revealing trailers hyping the movie. Certainly most of the movie goers saw the scene that takes place in the bedroom. The boys gain permission to make bunk beds, which results in a Black Sheep reenactment where Chris Farley collapsed the entire bed structure on David Spade.
Well, when that scene played out in Step Brothers, the majority of the almost capacity audience were quietest.
To sidestep any original pun or finishing sentence, the movie is still worth the price of admission. It is what it is, and what it is, is a freakin’ hilarious movie. The acting makes it valuable; aside from Ferrell and Reilly, Adam Scott plays Brennan’s successful, and very conceited younger brother. The disparity between the two is beautiful.
Go see the matinee with a date, or see it with a group at night. **Spoiler alert: Be ready for cameos by other current film stars and full frontal male nudity.
