Step Brothers
(2008)The writers and director of the hit 'Anchorman' and the not-so-hit 'Talladega Nights' team up again to bring us this story of two grown men who have to learn to accept each other as step brothers when their respective single parents get married.... More
The joke is that they still act a bit like children, which suits Will Ferrell down to the ground. Cue scenes with the grown brothers arguing who gets which bunkbed.Hide
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Directed by Adam McKay
Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott
Written by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
On Demand, DVD & Blu-Ray
Available from 6 providers
Flicks Review
BY Andreas Heinemann Flicks Writer
Much like McKay/Ferrell collaboration Anchorman, Step Brothers is shot in a loose manner that allows the cast to improvise and toy with their performances on set. This method continues to provide nuggets of comic gold, but they aren't being unearthed with the regularity that, until recently, was the case. ... More
It may be that the subject matter is a little on the nose considering who's involved. Ferrell always plays children, so to cast him in that exact role makes his usual routine seem obvious and ordinary in a way that detracts from the wackiness they are clearly trying to get across. Ferrell still delivers all the moments his fans will want to see though, and Reilly is great playing the second banana. A lot of serious cinephiles want him to return to more dramatic roles, and while I see why, it detracts deserved attention from what a great comic actor he is.
With roughly equal amounts of hits and misses in the laugh department, this is your standard comedy blockbuster. Despite the material seeming underdeveloped, and a sense of immaturity that starts to grate, quality performances from the marquee names keeps Step Brothers the right side of entertaining.
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Step Brothers
The Press Reviews
55%
of critics recommend.
Rotten Tomatoes Score. More reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
It's no Anchorman, but it's several steps in the right direction. Full Review
They're losers that only a mother, an entertainment manager or a gang of self-satisfied comedy insiders could love. Full Review
Ferrell relives his youth in this simple, ridiculously absurd and yet funny film. Full Review
Step Brothers is a hard R, for good reason. While it's somewhat sweeter, if you will, than a typical Apatow flick, the ludicrous situations call for equally ludicrous behavior and statements. Full Review
Starting at infantile and regressing hysterically from there, Step Brothers flies on the comic chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Full Review
Stupid, crude and hilarious, Step Brothers works by sneaking past our better judgment. Full Review
The film is funny at times but lapses into the reflexive vulgarity that seems to be the default mechanism of the Apatow machinery. Full Review
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