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Step Brothers

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott

Directed by: Adam McKay

RS: 2.5of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2008 Columbia Pictures Comedy

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Starting at infantile and regressing hysterically from there, Step Brothers flies on the comic chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. They riffed on the baby Jesus in Talladega Nights. Now they're goofing on grown men who stay babies. Are you ready to see Ferrell rub his hairy nut sack on Reilly's drum set? You better be. Step Brothers, directed by Adam McKay from a story by McKay, Ferrell and Reilly (so you know who to hold responsible), pushes its R rating to the merry max. I'd better explain. Ferrell plays Brennan Huff, 39, a sleepwalker and chronic masturbator who lives with his divorced mom (Mary Steenburgen). Reilly plays Dale Doback — even more of a slacker, since he's a year older — who lives with his widowed dad (Richard Jenkins). When the parents marry, Brennan and Dale are forced to co-exist and, yikes, get jobs. Chaos follows, much of it funny-gut-busting, some of it funny not so much. Dale has major rage issues (kid bullies beat him up). Brennan blubbers when insulted as a "mangina" (his slow descent into tears at dinner is priceless). Steenburgen (the Oscar winner) and Jenkins (so good in The Visitor) add a touch of class. "What the fucking fuck" sounds like poetry when Steenburgen says it.

Producer Judd Apatow (does this guy ever sleep?) calls Step Brothers a "demented version of The Parent Trap — with dick jokes." Close enough. But the movie is too good-natured to drown in raunch. Says Dale, beating his drums as Brennan sings Josh Groban (don't ask), "I'm gonna make beautiful music for a sad world." In their own irresistibly idiotic way, Ferrell and Reilly do just that.



PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Aug 7, 2008)

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Step Brothers

Review 1 of 4

dismantledrepair writes:

3of 4 Stars


John C. Reiley and Will Ferrell are hilarious, especially together. I loved the movie until the last bit, which got a bit stupid and drawn out, but I didn't really care because I was still laughing. Great movie...not Will's best but it will keep you entertained.

Sep 2, 2008 14:48:16

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Review 2 of 4

hdbngr63 writes:

2of 4 Stars


If Step Brothers would've played close to the stereotype of 40 year old men living in their parents basement, such as the computer with World of Warcraft, the Dungeons and Dragons board and the 12-pack of Monster energy drinks next to the bed, I might've bought into it. But the childish antics of these characters wear out their welcome pretty quick. It's mostly hit and miss, but there's no big payoff when it hits. A disappointment,but a step up from the awful Semi-Pro

Aug 3, 2008 23:33:51

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Review 3 of 4

mattdiggsit writes:

3of 4 Stars


Great movie. The theater was laughing out loud the whole time. I'm glad i didn't read this review first, it would have ruined the nut sack part. Probably one of the funniest parts of the movie! Don't take the kids, there's A LOT of cussing...

Jul 29, 2008 10:56:11

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Review 4 of 4

webber writes:

Not Rated


Since when can't you hand out a half star? Way to get in touch with your inner, nonsensical rage there.

Jul 25, 2008 10:08:09

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