Step Brothers~Will Ferrell~John C Reilly~ Not The Kind Of Brothers I Want To be Around!

The other night, when my hubby asked me what movies I had waiting to be watched, none of them was of interest to him...I think he's had it with my French and other foreign movies I've been into, for the time being at least....So being the kind, sweet person that I am, I gave him carte blanche along with my monthly blockbuster in-store coupon and told him anything he picks up would be fine with me.

When he came home with this movie Step brothers, I thought ok, I used to like Will Ferrell in Saturday Night Live, well, most of the time, and I really thought John C. Reilly was very good in a few movies I've seen him in, Chicago and Gangs of New York, come to mind, but I didn't see the other movies they have starred in together in the past.

I know now that those will be in my not to be watched list of films. And, now that I'm aware of that the director, Adam McKay, was the one who directed Ferrell in The Anchorman, a movie I hated, I can see why.

The story is very simple, but gets very crazy. Dr Robert Doback, Richard Jenkins, (an actor who I think is just excellent,he played the role of the father in Six feet Under and did an outstanding job in the recent movie, The Visitor), and Nancy Huff, (Mary Steenburgen), see each other over a crowded room at some sort of convention, and fall in love immediately, have fast torrid sex and get married in record time. The catch is, each of them have a middle aged son who lives at home.

Now that they are married, Nancy will be moving into the Doback household with her man-child son, Brennan, (Ferrell), and the Dr's son, Dale, (Reilly), is not very pleased. Well, neither of the sons are pleased with this new living arrangement, it's just the exact opposite. And that's the gist of the entire film, how two new adult step-siblings, still living in the world of childhood, adapt to each other, or not!

Not only that, but they will have to share a room in this combined family household.  I wondered, It's a big house so why do they have to share a room?

That's when all the foolishness begins, just not fun foolishness but silly stuff with each actor making foolish kid like faces and using childish voices when they talk to each other or taunt each other.

My big question is why are these obnoxious men, in their late 30's/early 40's, still living at home like teenagers, behaving in the same way, with the same mannerisms. Dale has a drum set, tells Brennen not to touch it, well, you know he's going to...they fight over what TV shows to watch and bicker about everything. It's just so ridiculous.

They don't act like adults in any way shape or form but like the kind of children you just don't want to be around especially grown up, grotesqueish, ridiculous children.

But, eventually they bond, finding some interests they both have and just sit around all day playing. That's when Robert and Nancy decide they should get jobs which the man-boys decide to sabotage on each interview they go to. More silliness, which just didn't strike a comedic cord with me at all.

Then, when these step-siblings absurd antics start to have a negative effect on their newly married parents, they seem to have a change of heart and actually do manage to accomplish a grown up idea and carry out a  plan they come up with to keep them together.

But still and all, though this movie might appeal too many out there in movie land, it just didn't cut it for me, at all. I guess I didn't see the fun in their childish antics or mannerisms so, for that reason, I just can't give the movie more than 2 stars and those stars are primarily for Richard Jenkins who once again does a terrific acting job in Step Brothers, just showing his talent for being able to tackle any kind of role he's put into.

As for Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, I guess their roles as adult children would appeal to the younger crowd who laugh at bodily function jokes and pure immature conduct which is nearly everything they do and how they both act throughout this movie Step Brothers. Sorry, but for me, I have to give this movie a thumbs down.

There are all kinds of DVD extras including your choice of directors cut or extended version, thank goodness we chose the directors cut and I didn't watch any of the extras, which is unusual for me...but, for those interested here they are;

Commentary with Ferrell, Reilly and Adam McKay
The Making of the Step Brothers
Gag reel....(that probably would have really made me really gag)
Full music video by Boats and Hoes.

204 minutes long

Main Cast:
Will Ferrell - Brennan Huff
John C Reilly - Dale Duback
Richard Jenkins - Dr Robert Doback
Nancy Huff - Mary Steenburgen
Director:
Adam McKay
Writers:
Will Ferrell, Adam McKay