STEP BROTHERS (2008): A VIEWPOINT

Dale & Brennan tussling hard in STEP BROTHERS (2008)

This film often hits the right notes in regard to adolescent rivalry and the difficult period of adjustment such rivals must pass through. It is sometimes zany after the fashion of the Marx Brothers, sometimes manic after the fashion of the Three Stooges, cruder than the worst “stand-up” comedian, and immensely aided by the longsuffering parents, ably played by Richard Jenkins (”Dr. Robert Doback”) and Mary Steenburgen (”Nancy Huff”). The “square offs” between Ferrell and Reilly near the outset of the movie were remarkably well conceived. Still, for a lot of folks “getting long in the tooth,” this film had a number of scenes that went over the top, and spills are never good. As for myself, I’ve always liked slapstick comedy, which–besides making “dirty-mouth”–is the primary form of humor offered. There is a sort of comedy of adolescent manners also involved, which can be amusing to watch, as it is done well.

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly approach their roles with suitable whining, mini-tantrums, bitter name-calling, and “dirty deeds,” so that one might suppose they’d never get along. Then, a word–an expression–a citation of some hero figure, and suddenly it dawned on one or both that they had the same view on something. Then more common viewpoints were found. The inevitable occurs and they realise that they have a lot of the same views, tastes and habits. They exult at the equality of their maleness. They become pals.

However, this process is so wearing on the newly wed couple, Dr. Doback and Nancy Huff Doback, that they decide to split up. The last straw was the final and best means of “rearing” the two boys, as Robert Doback was now in the no-nonsense, tough-love stage, while wife Nancy seems bogged down in neo-Dr. Spockism.

Most people will get a laugh out of portions of this film, but some may wonder if the verbal stink (and some scenes) overwhelmed the fun.

The film opens with the Huffs at home one morning. Mom is getting ready to attend a conference, featuring and honoring Dr. Robert Doback for services rendered. Brennan Huff is preparing a microwave delicacy, Cheetos melted over Nachos (or other chip), which ultimately creates a sort of pizza.

The Big Capsule: A middle-aged doctor, Robert Doback, who is being honored for medical services rendered, at the podium tries to express himself in a little speech that gets tangled up as he spots the pretty Nancy Huff, wearing a dress with revealing decolete. She notices his interest and seems to respond favorably. Before you can say, “Your place or mine,” they are set to get married. Each tells his own child that there will be a marriage and that the child will have either a new Daddy or Mommy, as the case may be. What makes this situation unique is that Dale Doback is 40 years old and Brennan Huff is 39 years old (or vice-versa). Also, Brennan has a very successful brother named Derek. This allows a separate rivalry to play out. Needless to say, both Dale and Brennan suffer from a condition which might be dubbed: “Adolescent Paralysis,” characterized by an intractably frozen state of boyhood. In a sexual sense they are at an early teenager stage, although later in the flick, Dale graduates, thanks to his sister-in-law, “Alice.” Neither boy welcomes the news. Dale proves rather imaginative in his objections, as he floats the scenario past his father of the new bride seeing Dale naked and going into uncontrollable sexual excitation. All objections are brushed aside, and, after a wedding & reception, the two families join at the home of the Dobacks. There is a well-conceived front yard encounter between the two boys. They freeze like dogs some ten paces from each other, staring directly at one another. Finally, Dale states that he is known as “Dragon.” After a pause, Brennan avers that he is known as “Night Hawk.” In this bit of tense “first meeting” the moviegoer can infer the potential for reproachment. They are told that they will have to share a bedroom–not a popular decision. Dale shows Brennan the room, taking time along the way to point out a room where his drums were set up and to warn Brennan never to touch his drums. Naturally, this would be the site of desecration and tussling. The first night sees the boys in single beds, thinking up & hurling insults at one another (Dale started it). Although, it’s pretty silly so far, it revs up in low comedy & slapsticks. All the parents dream about is taking the doctor’s ample yacht on a transoceanic tour of the world. He needs to work a couple of more years for the sake of money, then its time for their romantic dream trip. ‘Tis said: “The best laid plans of mice and men oft go agley.”  One problem resolves itself when the boys discover their common “favorites,” and become pals. Yet, there are other problems the boys must overcome. Neither has a job–nor shows too much interest in one. Robert and Nancy are determined that the boys get a job. The boys dream of starting and controlling a multimedia company, Prestige, producing rock videos and the like. Brennan would sing, and Dale play the drums. There are comic moments during the job hunt, as well as in the depiction of street perils caused to the boys by a gang of tough eleven-year-olds, led by “Chris Gardoski” (Hogan Manus) and a stout redheaded kid (Travis T. Flory). Finally, to keep the status quo, the boys managed to seriously wreck the yacht, thus preventing the world cruise. If there is no world cruise, there is no need for jobs. What about Dad? Absolutely incensed. He’s in the mood to “roll up the sleeves” with these overgrown twin “Dennis the Menace” act-a-likes. The doctor’s ill-temper draws condemnation from Mom, and the marriage, as with the yacht, is headed for the rocks. There is a separation of the two sets of parents into status quo nuptuals. Now, brother Derek has dropped by a few times, too, usually bringing his wife, “Alice” (Kathryn Hahn), and two kids. Unaccountably (and incredibly), she has taken a passion toward Dale that surprises the “dickens” out of him. Derek’s not liked by either Dale or Brennan. Still, he is in the position to give Brennan a shot at a job that might work for him: manage the Catalina Wine Festival, where he would put the people gathered in the mood to buy Derek’s quota of boats. Brennan agrees to put it on, and, on that day, gets things going well. As it happens, Dale is working for the catering company employed to wine & dine the crowd. There, both Doctor Doback and Nanct Huff watch over their “little rascals.”  They meet and almost immediately get “that old feeling.” There is an amusing scene with the band hired to entertain the crowd. This leads to a problem that may jeopardize Derek’s sales that day. Their parents urge Brennan to go on stage and sing, and for Dale to go, too, and play the drums. They succeed! Maybe their multimedia dream, Prestige, may not be a “pipe dream” afterall. To reward the boys, Robert and Nancy give them a yacht-remnant treehouse. The parents laugh as the boys go aboard to find their favorite sorts of treasure. They have come to terms with the fact that they have a couple of - somehow or other - ”challenged sons.” The kids are loving it. All in all, moviegoers who can deal with “dirty-mouth” aspect will probably get a lot of laughs from this flick. Those who can’t, or don’t choose to, should avoid it. I don’t see this flick as suited to children, although the “munchkins” are often as lewd as Dale and Brennan can be. Caveat emptor.

All rights reserved. Gobigfoot, 2008.