Step Brothers (2008)

Two aimless middle-aged losers still living at home are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents get married.

Director:

Adam McKay

Writers:

Will Ferrell (screenplay), Adam McKay (screenplay),

Stars:

Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Will Ferrell	...	Brennan Huff
John C. Reilly	...	Dale Doback
Mary Steenburgen	...	Nancy Huff
Richard Jenkins	...	Dr. Robert Doback
Adam Scott	...	Derek
Kathryn Hahn	...	Alice
Andrea Savage	...	Denise
Lurie Poston	...	Tommy
Elizabeth Yozamp	...	Tiffany
Logan Manus	...	Chris Gardoki
Travis T. Flory	...	Redheaded Kid (as Travis Flory)
Lili Rose McKay	...	7-Year-Old Girl (as Lili McKay)
Shira Piven	...	Nurse
Seth Morris	...	Doctor
Wayne Federman	...	Blind Man

Storyline

Brennan Huff and Dale Doback are both about 40 when Brennan's mom and Dale's dad marry. The sons still live with the parents so they must now share a room. Initial antipathy threatens the household's peace and the parents' relationship. Dad lays down the law: both slackers have a week to find a job. Out of the job search and their love of music comes a pact that leads to friendship but more domestic disarray compounded by the boys' sleepwalking. Hovering nearby are Brennan's successful brother and his lonely wife: the brother wants to help sell his step-father's house, the wife wants Dale's attention, and the newlyweds want to retire and sail the seven seas. Can harmony come from the discord?

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Plot Keywords:

love | friendship | slacker | sleepwalking | widower | 

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Taglines:

They grow up so fast.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for crude and sexual content, and pervasive language

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 July 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hermanastros

Filming Locations:

1987 Midwick Dr, Altadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$65,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,681,492 (UK) (29 August 2008)

Gross:

£6,154,637 (UK) (26 September 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 106 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the high school which Brennan performs during the talent show and gets made fun of by Derek is "Great Valley High School" which is the name of the actual high school director Adam McKay attended.

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Goofs

When they are eating Christmas dinner Alice takes off her wedding ring, but when she is in the other room with Dale her wedding ring is back on.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nancy Huff: Hey, Brennan.
Brennan Huff: Mom, I'm watching the thing...
Nancy Huff: Yeah. I'm leaving.
Brennan Huff: ...with the lady.
Nancy Huff: Okay, I'll be home around 11.
Brennan Huff: Bye, Mom.
Nancy Huff: Bye, Brennan.
aerobic instructress on TV: Let's slowly get those hips up.
Brennan Huff: [shoves right hand down his pants to masturbate]
[...]

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Crazy Credits

There are two additional short scenes, one during the credits and one afterwards. They are; Brennan & Dale arrive in a helicopter to have a rematch fight with the junior high bullies. Brennan & Dale suffering another joint bout of sleepwalking, colliding into one another before heading out of a door.

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Connections

Referenced in Kambakkht Ishq (2009)

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Soundtracks

"The Longest Time"
Written by Billy Joel
Produced by Hal Willner

User Reviews

Yes, it is very stupid and yet I am ashamed to admit I enjoyed it.

Okay, I must admit that this movie was incredibly stupid, offensive and awful...but somehow I still laughed and enjoyed myself. Maybe it was because the film had no pretenses--it never even tried to be deep or intelligent--just appeal to our baser instincts.

The reason I watched this film is because I loved TALLADEGA NIGHTS so much. Another Will Farrell/John C. Reilly film sure sounded great--even if it didn't match the quality or laughs of this earlier film.

The film is about two total losers who still live at home with their parent, even though they are 39 and 40 years old. On top of this, they both have the common sense and maturity of 7 year-olds---very, very slow 7 year-olds! And in both roles, Ferrell and Reilly both sounded like little boys in adult bodies--and this provided a lot of laughs. When both their parents met and married, however, both Ferrell and Reilly handed it like most immature children--they sulked and threw tantrums. Then, in a strange twist, the two losers realized how much they had in common and became fast friends. The problem, however, is that as friends they both had a lot of crazy and destructive energy--and perhaps it was better when they were fighting and arguing all the time! The film manages to entertain because it is well-written, plus the actors seemed to have a lot of fun acting like total idiots. This fun translated to fun for the audience as well. However, I should warn you that the movie is very, very crude--with lots of colorful language, a pair of fake testicles and lots of sexual references. While kids love Will Ferrell movies, I don't recommend this except for older and more mature audiences (that's ironic, isn't it?).

Overall, lots of primitive and crude humor that manages to make you laugh throughout. It ain't pretty, but it is fun and worth seeing.