Post by StevePulaski on Feb 4, 2011 23:08:11 GMT -5
Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly play step brothers in Step Brothers.
Rating: ★★½
I saw this movie in the theaters on August 26, 2008. That was almost three years ago. I havent seen the film since, but boy have I heard a ton about it. Everyone of my friends has seen it, and cites it as "their favorite movie". I pay no mind, but I'm sick and tired of getting asked my opinion on this film. I say "from what I remember it's kind of funny", but people have to constantly give me their two cents and say I like too many old movies. Which is definitely the case. I'd choose Friday the 13th over Drag Me to Hell, License to Drive over The Hangover, and Clerks over Step Brothers.
To be fair, Step Brothers has it's perks. It's a very slapstick oriented film, and those films are seemingly not hard to do. I've always been a fan of the classic slapstick like The Dean Martin Variety Show and anything from the work of Chris Farley.The reason those are so well done, and this pales in comparison is because slapstick only works if two people have great on screen chemistry. Like Farley and Spade. Those two nailed both the movies did they together, and never disappointed me. Ferrell and Reilly are somewhat funny, but also somewhat forgettable as they try a bit too hard to be funny.
Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly) are two forty something losers who sit on their couches, and have done nothing memorable in recent years. Their lives come together when Brennan's mom and Dale's dad come together to get married, and live together. Naturally but oddly, Brennan and Dale can't stand each other when they move in. May I ask why? They're both losers that do nothing, and just sit around all day. How are they not the best of friends?
Maybe because both have been socially awkward hermits their entire lives? Could be. Regardless, they hate each other, but they grow to do some brotherly bonding together. Somethings are entertaining, others are just over the top and nothing special. Nothing is as funny as I remember, and I can't see how this improves with multiple viewings. If anything, my rating would gradually decrease after watching this too many times.
Will Ferrell is funny in places, but I find him unnecessary sometimes. The "balls on the drumset" joke isn't nearly as funny as I remember, and his whole filmography is just unappealing. In this film, he is okay, but like I said, not really worthy of the much recognition he gets. While Reilly is funnier, he also isn't very noteworthy.
Two and a half years later, Step Brothers disappoints. I remembered it as such a funnier movie in theaters, but it's nothing short of cliche. You know they'll wind up liking each other, and there is just no suspense. I grew tired of the characters, and this could all be settled if the parents intervened and said "look, you guys may not like each other, but maybe you guys need to talk out your differences and figure out some things you both like to do." But that would make the movie end too soon.
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott, and Kathryn Hahn. Directed by: Adam McKay.
