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 [United States]

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

Playground bully Chris Gardocki is named after an NFL punter who played for the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Goofs

When Derek comes over for Christmas dinner, he mentions that he was driving around with his buddy in a "brand-new" Testarossa. Ferrari stopped production of their Testarossa sports car in 1996, so Derek could not possibly be driving a brand new one.

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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

References Deadliest Catch (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Breathe and Stop"
Written by Robert Kool Bell (as Robert Bell), Ronald Bell, George Funky Brown (as George Brown),
Q-Tip (as Kamaal Fareed), Roy Handy, Cleveland Horne, Robert Spike Mickens (as Robert Mickens),
, Gene Redd (as Gene Redd Jr.), Gene Redd Sr., Claydes Smith, Dennis D.T. Thomas (as Dennis Thomas),
, Richard Westfield and James 'Jay Dee' Yancey (as James Yancey)
Performed by Q-Tip
Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Contains a sample of "N.T."
Performed by Kool & The Gang
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Step Laughter

This was quite a funny movie. Of course the entire premise is utterly ridiculous, two "grown men" ages 39 and 40, still job-less, living with their parents? It seemed to me that these two guys acted like 9 year-olds, but that is what makes it funny. I think this movie was even funnier than Talladega Nights, Ferrell & Reilly's first collaboration.

There was a very thin and outrageous plot, but it lent itself to tons of improvisation, and in turn creating some of the ridiculous scenes, circumstances, and dialog. And seeing Mary Steenburgen curse like a sailor was hysterical. Ferrell and Reilly both play their characters to the hilt, as does Adam Scott, the evil younger brother, and his insane wife played by Kathryn Hahn. Overall there is an equal amount of slapstick, dialog, and potty humor (well okay, probably a bit heavier on the potty humor).

Though the movie itself is very hysterical, there are also some equally good bloopers, cut scenes, etc. on the DVD bonus materials. These are as hysterical as the movie was. I highly recommend renting the DVD and watching the extra features.