'Step Brothers' review

Will Ferrell delivers laughs without the aid of any sporting equipment

By Matt Pais

Critic's Rating:

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Brennan (Will Ferrell), 39, and Dale (John C. Reilly), 40, still act like 6-year-olds and live with their respective single parents. Until those parents (Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen) get hitched and the two guys have to learn to get along and get jobs or risk being thrown out of the house once and for all.

Big question: Is the latest pairing of these middle-aged man-boys and co-writer/director Adam McKay funnier than the spotty "Talladega Nights"?

Catch it: Dudes wearing tuxes to job interviews? A suburban family harmonizing to Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child O' Mine"? Ferrell introducing a drumset to his scrotum? Comedy like this can quickly swerve from demented hilarity to total moronstupidity (these guys speak their own language, so they deserve their own words). But the consistently funny "Step Brothers" flails with such determination it might make you believe in the redeeming, endearing power of immaturity.

Skip it: If you, like Dale, also think participating in a fantasy league counts as being employed to "manage a baseball team." Anything that brings in cash should count as a job!

Bottom line: As usual, several gags (licking dog poop, beating up kids) aim for the cheapest of laughs, and there's a point where "Step Brothers" becomes weirdly depressing as you wonder what emotional problems these guys really have. Then they perk up, talk about kicking holes in pumpkins and remind everyone how good it feels to spend 90 minutes laughing and not thinking.

Bonus: Adam Scott ("Art School Confidential") strikes gold repeatedly as Brennan's younger brother, the planet's biggest jackass, who uses obnoxious slang like, "I'm Audi 5000," brags about hanging with Chad Michael Murray and adores Dane Cook. If this sounds like someone in your life, you know what to do.

Video: Watch the review of 'Step Brothers'

What do you think of 'Step Brothers'? Email me: mpais@tribune.com