Review - Step Brothers

Studio/Production Company: Columbia Pictures
Director: Adam McKay
Written By: Will Ferrel/Adam McKay
Release Date: July 25,2008 (theatrical), December 2, 2008 (DVD)
Genre: Comedy
Strong Points: Excellent, humorous chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly.
Weak Points: Story is unoriginal and characters are rather bland; Ferrel and Reilly acting like babies all the time becomes a drag in some places.
Technical Score: C+
Artistic Score: C
Final Score (not an average): C-
Moral Warnings: Some strong, sexual dialogue and sexual humor throughout; lots of swearing including many F-words

Step Brothers is directed and co-written by Adam McKay who also co-wrote and directed Talladega Nights and Anchorman. This means that he once again goes after his audience through a near-brainless and immature humor that will, also once again, win only a particular crowd. If you didn't like Talladega Nights or Anchorman, pass this one by. Otherwise, Step Brothers is a fun comedy for a rainy day.

The premise of the film revolves around the acting chemistry of Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly. The two play 40 year old men in separate homes, both of whom, instead of going out into the world and making a living for themselves, have decided to remain at home with their parents and live the much easier lifestyle of ten year olds.

The plot picks up quickly in order to get the laughs going, and Brennan's (Ferrel) mother sparks a romance with Dale's (Reilly) father. They find commonality in their inability to send their sons away at such a late age, and the inevitable occurs. They decide to get married. Such is the catalyst for the film Step Brothers.

Brennan and Dale are forced to share a room together, and they begin their relationship by threatening violence against the other. Ferrel and Reilly have great chemistry with one another, each working off the other to play immaturity. Their chemistry carries the film through as the two step-brothers humorously work out their differences and become best friends.

The problem is that this chemistry really is the only thing that Step Brothers has going for it. The plot is blandly predictable, and the characters are forgettable. The formula is to be expected of a summer comedy, but its mistakes aren't necessarily easy to forgive.

As far as moral content goes, be forewarned that the film's humor revolves around crudity. Profanity abounds, including a large number of F-bombs throughout. Sexual humor is constant, and there's one clothed sex scene (two if you watch the Unrated version). Throughout the film there is a small sub-plot of Dale having an affair with his step-brother's (not Brennan's) wife. There is also a brief shot of Brennan's (fake) testicles that is rather unseemly. It more than earns its R rating.

In conclusion, Step Brothers relies fully on the performances of Ferrell and Reilly as they rant and whine and cry like ten-year-olds through the entire film. If you're not laughing within the first five minutes, you'll likely find the rest to be quite droll.

-Zachary Mellgren (zak@revolve21.com)