Step Brothers [DVD]

By Clint Morris

I’ve had an injured foot for a few weeks. Thing is, I don’t know what hurt more – the foot or having to sit through the last couple of Will Ferrell comedies. Now that was pain. And unlike the foot, there was an ointment or ankle brace that’d help “Blades of Glory” or “Semi-Pro” play better – you just had to wait till the pain went away.

Thankfully, Ferrell’s latest film isn’t half as painful as his last couple – in fact, I might even go so far as to say it’s the funniest film of the year (but then, remember, I am on pain killers for the foot). I haven’t laughed this hard since the fat teacher at school took a stumble down the stairs. My gut still hurts from laughing.

There are moments of true conviviality in this one – and I’m not being paid by a studio to say that. “Step Brothers” is the Will Ferrell film you – and your aching foot – have been waiting to see since the former TV comic started getting that exorbitant fee of his (Meanwhile, his old SNL buddy Chris Kattan is living on food stamps).

I’d say the magical ingredient of “Step Brothers” is its cast and crew. Producer Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”), writer/director Adam McKay (“Talladega Nights”, “Anchorman”) and actor John C. Reilly, reuniting with Ferrell after their bravura double-act in 2006’s “Talladega Nights”. All three guys know comedy, they’ve shown us that in the past, and no doubt all three don’t want the latest Ferrell film to be playing to an empty audience in the kiddie video room at Pumpkin Patch like his last few were (But then, another welcome element of this film is how dirty and ‘adult’ the humour is, unlike the last couple of Ferrell films, which could’ve easily been shown on a big-screen Plasma at a kiddie crèche, so don’t expect to see this one screening on a box in any department store… not unless the sound’s turned down. And even then, someone will have to be on hand to fast-forward over that bit where Ferrell gets out his prosthetic testicles).

In a nutshell (god, what is it with this review? Seems to be all about balls!), the film stars Ferrell and Reilly as two spoilt forty-year-old guys, both still living at home, who are forced to share a room when their single parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins) get married.
It really isn’t until Brennan (Ferrell’s) self-righteous asshole of a brother (played my good bud Adam Scott, “Knocked Up”) arrives, that the two step-brothers decide to start getting along.

The sleep-walking scene, the crying-at-the-table scenes, the ridiculous-fights, the balls-on-the-drum scene… there’s a heap of bound-to-be classic moments in this film.

It’s a nice return to form for Ferrell – – and further corroboration that he needs to just do movies with Reilly from here on out.

Look, the film probably isn’t as successful as “Talladega Nights” – but only because it dips in the third act, and even that isn’t so big a deal. It’s just that McKay totally overlooks some terrific opportunities for gags here and instead sets his sights clearly on the finish line – undoing some of the good work he did earlier on. From the 70 minute mark, the film winds down… and it’s still got another 20 minutes or so to go. They needed to fill the laugh tank up with a lot more petroleum in that third act. Still, considering how torturous Ferrell’s last couple of films were, this is a negligible beef, because on the whole, it’s probably the big guy’s funniest flick in eons.

Welcome back sir.

Ouch, my foot.

Extras

Commentary, Featurettes, Gag Reel (Extras Unpreviewed)