Homemade Nachos- something every teenager has probably made at some point in their lives. Using the smell test to determine if that pair of underwear is still wearable- unfortunately and undeniably also something that most kids have probably done in their lives. But, peering through the glass of the microwave during the opening credits is not a teenager or even young adult, but rather a middle aged man. Why is this middle-aged man making Nachos in his pajamas and why is the other playing guitar hero in his dirty underwear? Because, these are not normal middle aged men. Brennan still lives with his mother because he recently got laid-off from his job at PetSmart and Dale lives with his father because he dropped-out of college years ago with the intention of "joining the family business", even though his father is a doctor. These two seemingly helpless adults meet each other when Brennan's widowed mother and Dale's divorced father meet and decide to get married. At first the new step-brother’s despise each other but as soon as they figure out that they have many of things in commons like a love of bunk-beds and vilosoraptors but a mutual hate for Brennan’s brother Derek, the family breaks apart and Brennan and Dale finally have to face adulthood separately.
Throughout the movie, viewers are peppered with quotable lines from Brennan played by Will Ferrell and Dale, John C. Reilly. It is impossible to catch all of the ridiculous one-liners after watching just once. I choose a new favorite scene after every time I watch the movie. As Dale and Brennan grow closer, Nancy and Robert’s marriage is strained. It’s amazing that they put up with the “boys” for so long before they have finally had enough. After wrecking Robert’s boat, Robert snaps, divorces Nancy soon after and tells Dale and Brennan they have one-month to find jobs. Before they are evicted from the family’s home they manage to bury each other alive, humiliate Derek and realize that they were never really brothers.
The movie is clever and original and should be appreciated from a surface level. I am a true fan of the movie because of its genuine humor that requires no analysis. As you watch, you must just appreciate the absurdity of two 40 year-old men’s endeavors as they awkwardly take-on adult roles in society.
I could not agree more with your review of Step Brothers. I also love this movie and agree that it is almost impossible to choose a favorite scene. The number of quotable lines is endless. I thought your description of the opening scene to begin your review was clever and a great way to start this review. Overall, I feel that your description of the movie is spot on and leaves enough of the movie concealed, leaving your reader with the desire to watch it for themselves.
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