Set in the stage of two lazy, jobless fellows who both live with their individual parents, but as fate will have it, the two families are coming together to become one.
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.
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.
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.
Foul-mouthed Ferrell comedy isn't very funny. No kids.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 18, 2008
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?
