Film Review: Step Brothers

Director: Adam McKay

A film produced by Judd Apatow and co-written by Will Ferrell should have potential for a very funny film but this falls incredibly short. It is a juvenile and at times desperate for laughs film with both Reilly and Ferrell especially getting to play a man-child which seems to be an over-used format.

Both Brendan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) both live with their respective parents who are now single after deaths and divorce. Their parents meet and decide to get married to each other forcing them to live together and become step-brothers. They are made to get jobs within a month or be forced to move out of the family home which causes them to look for jobs together which is unsuccessful as they hamper each others chances.

Brendan Huff (Will Ferrell) and Dale Doback (John C. Reilly)

Will Ferrell is effectively playing the character that he reverts to in a lot of movies whilst John C. Reilly is more comfortable playing an actor than a comedian. There are one or two laughs in the movie that were worthy of praise especially when the brothers decide to make their beds into bunk beds but overall it was a needless exercise and a couple of hours of my life I'd like back.

One of my main hopes after seeing this film is that the sequel that has been discussed between Ferrell and Reilly doesn't happen then this film can be left in the past where it might be forgotten.

1/4 needlessly over the top, desperate and not particularly funny