Step Brothers

Release Date: July 24, 2008
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, Kathryn Hahn, Rob Riggle
Directed by: Adam McKay


It's been two years since director Adam McKay teamed up with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. In this tale penned by Ferrell and McKay, Will and John star as Brennan Huff and Dale Doback, unwitting step sibs whose parents meet at a convention and bond over their still-full nests. Talladega had a semblance of a NASCAR-driven plot that was held together by hilarious riffing by Ferrell and Reilly. Step Brothers, however, is like the guys were just let loose to run around in brightly colored briefs and vintage tee-shirts. Depending on how you feel about their brand of comedy, this could be a very, very good thing — or your worst nightmare.

While the movie's ad campaign focuses on Ferrell and Reilly, Step Brothers is really more of an ensemble comedy. As Nancy Huff, Brennan's long suffering (and somewhat enabling) mother, Mary Steenburgen is hilarious and sweet; if you've ever wanted to see her yell, "What the f*cking f*ck!" while covered in mud, here's your chance. And Richard Jenkins, known for his role as the dead father in "Six Feet Under" and numerous big-screen appearances, is fantastic as the frustrated father who retreats to Applebee's when he needs to get away from his insane family. Kathryn Hahn, who plays Derek's put upon and horny wife Alice, steals each scene she's in.

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. It wouldn't be nearly as funny for Dale and Brennan to get grounded if Brennan didn't yell, "Are you f*cking high?!"

Movie-goers like to peg actors or collaborators to certain trends. They sigh and say, "Oh, not those guys again! Not another Will Ferrell sports movie!" (Okay, the latter is kind of true.) But I, for one, will not say that when the next McKay/Ferrell/Reilly flick hits the big screen. Or when Step Brothers comes out on DVD.

— Jenni Miller