Movie Review of Step Brothers

So either it’s me that’s getting old or it’s Will Ferrell’s comedy. There’s hardly a cast member on Saturday Night Live that has put together a better collection of skits, while Elf, Talladega Nights and Anchorman rank among my favorite comedies. But while Step Brothers does have its moments I couldn’t help but be disappointed at their infrequency, and even the funny parts just seem like a recycling of old material. It seems to follow on from another recent disappointment in Semi-Pro.

At least there’s an interesting premise. The poster looks as ridiculous as Twins and reunites the successful chemistry of Ferrell and John C. Reilly that worked brilliantly in Talladega Nights. I don’t think I got a bigger laugh in the movie than each time I stared at the movie poster before seeing it. It also brings in the talent of Adam McKay, a former SNL writer that has worked on two of the aforementioned successful Ferrell movies, and the production genius that is Judd Apatow.

Not that there’s much need to describe the premise, but Reilly and Ferrell both play grown up sons of single parents that have never left home. When their parents strike up a relationship and get married, the two sons are forced to share a room together. Starting out as enemies, they come to realize how much they have in common and strike up the most predictable of friendships, and a double thorn in their parents’ sides.

The platform is hence provided for Ferrell and Reilly to fool around and make us laugh. They do so convincingly in several scenes a few of which were hysterical. The best laughs for me were two musical numbers, one a double rap act video packed with expletives and an impressive Will Ferrell solo of “Por ti Volare.” The problem is that the platform was something of a thin one that never enhances the comedy. We get to laugh at their antics but there’s very little support from the storyline. At least in Talladega Nights and Anchorman we had a story, a background that worked and even incorporated other characters. In Step Brothers it’s just a monotonous one tone joke from start to finish. Unfortunately two grown men acting like 7 year olds, or chimpanzees does not a movie make.

There’s a little variety in the cast. Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen are left to play the straight roles of the two concerned parents, while moments of comedy come from Ferrell’s obnoxious over-achieving younger brother (Adam Scott) and his repressed wife seeking sexual adventure (Kathryn Hahn). But the movie doesn’t really try to get much out of its support cast, including a cameo by Seth Rogen who isn’t even allowed a one liner. It’s probably telling to say that the best support comedy comes from the blind neighbor’s Seeing Eye dog. If anyone knows how to get the best out of an animal in a scene it’s Will Ferrell.

Fans of comedy will certainly get a few laughs. But Step Brothers is ultimately a complete let down that will more often have you scratching your head and just wanting a little more. Hopefully Will Ferrell will give a little more thought to his next comedy since his recent resume seems to be running in the wrong direction.