Jon Peters Reviews: “Step Brothers”

I have been down on Will Ferrell as of late. While this might be blasphemy to many, I really haven’t enjoyed much of his theatrical work since he left ‘SNL’. I’m not counting bit parts either, but full leading man vehicles. I did enjoy ‘Elf’ but that’s perhaps more the script and Favreau than Ferrell. But boy, do I love John C. Reilly. If you’ve been reading this site within the last two months, you should know that I loved a little dark comedy many critics dismissed, ‘The Promotion’. While that was a dark comedy, Reilly is no stranger to zany, goof fests like this. Essentially, that’s what ‘Step Brothers’ is.

At a board meeting, Robert (Richard Jenkins) eyes Nancy (Mary Steenburgen) and soon falls in love, has sex, and realizes they have more in common that lust: they both have 40 year olds at home. Soon Brennan and Dale become step brothers and then the war is on. From here, we get plenty of gross out gags, hilarious one-liners (perhaps my favorite bits of comedy in this film are their wildly odd quips), and other typical Ferrell comedy elements. McKay has directed Farrell in two others, the over-rated ‘Anchor Man’ and ‘Talladega Nights’ so he’s familiar with Ferrell’s antics. For the most part, they highlight all of the things that made Ferrell work on ‘SNL’. He plays a boyish, vulnerable idiot; yes, it’s different than his cocky idiots he’s been playing for like five movies now, and it feels oddly refreshing to see him ‘back’.

To me, though, it’s Reilly’s show to steal. He’s a more cynical, meaner; version of Ferrell’s character, but completely lovable. He also has the funnier moments and quips, like when the two of them are called in to be interviewed for a job, he proudly proclaims ‘We’re here to f*ck shit up!’ as then, in slow motion, walk towards the office, knocking over papers and pushing the employees around.

The success of this film lives or dies by its comedy. If it’s funny, then it wins, if it isn’t then we lose. Fortunately, it’s hilarious, although, there are some ideas and jokes that don’t work. Both get love interests that seem to be pulled out of nowhere, although Dale’s is sort of funny that goes nowhere. Brennan’s brother and his family parts are uninspired as it the blind neighbor bit. When they do ‘grow’ up, it’s there to push the finale along. We don’t buy it and it seems forced. But who cares. Ferrell and Reilly are a great comedic team, they play off each other like they are best buds and we enjoy seeing them together. The film is wildly funny, but not with out some duds. Not one of the summer’s funniest, but one that is funny, and that’s enough for me.