Despite some obvious flaws, 'Step Brothers' remains a hugely enjoyable, well-constructed slice of lowbrow Saturday night entertainment, leaving Ferrell's position as the reigning king of US comedy secure for a while longer.
You know you're in trouble when the cleverest parts of your movie are the ironic T-shirts, worn unironically ... (but) a bonus is deserved by the person who dug up the Pablo Cruise shirt.
Don't watch it on an airplane, don't check it out on cable, don't walk past the bargain basement bin where it's been sold.
Seattle Times
July 25, 2008
Brideshead Revisited, it turns out, deserves a revisit.
Fayetteville Free Weekly
February 01, 2009
Step Brothers is a rowdy, rambunctious, fitful, against-the-wall comedy. Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, and director writer Adam McKay heave comedy, like spaghetti, against the wall. About half sticks; the other half makes a real mess.
On its own terms, Step Brothers is hilarious. But it's a shame that the filmmakers didn't have more faith in the audience. Why resort to gross-out tactics when your premise is strong enough to allow for a more sophisticated approach?
