9 Sep 2008

Step Brothers

Director: Adam McKay

Starring: Will Ferrell, John C Reilly, Mary Steenburgen

Release: 2008-09-09

Comedian Will Ferrell reunites with his Talladega Nights co-star John C Reilly and director Adam McKay for a family comedy that's something of a departure from all the sports-themed comedies he's been making lately (Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro).

Will and John play two overgrown boys who are about 40-years-old and still living with their single parents. So when their parents (Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen) fall in love and get married, Will and John reluctantly become stepbrothers. At first, they quarrel and scheme against each other. But gradually, they become the best of friends...

As with other Will Ferrell comedy, Step Brothers trades on toilet humour (wanna see Will's testicles, anyone?), cheesy one-liners and slapstick set pieces. Oddly, however, Step Brothers lacks the freshness of Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. It could be because the subject matter deals with family ties that Will loses some of his trademark over-confidence. When the stepbrothers get all mushy over each other, the film loses its humour.

We wouldn't really recommend this to anyone except Will's fans.