'Step Brothers'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey just became best friends and are off to the Catalina Wine Mixer to rewatch 2008's hilarious comedy 'Step Brothers,' starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly and directed by Adam McKay.
Cast
Will Ferrell as Brennan Huff
John C. Reilly as Dale Doback
Mary Steenburgen as Nancy Huff
Richard Jenkins as Dr. Robert Doback
Adam Scott as Derek Huff
Kathryn Hahn as Alice
Andrea Savage as Denise
Directed by: Adam McKay
Written by: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Notes
- Chosen by Twitter poll – beat out 'Superbad', 'Knocked Up', and 'Old School'.
- Will Ferrell's 8-year comedy run (2001-2008): 'Old School', Elf, Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, 'Step Brothers'.
- Last truly canonical Will Ferrell movie – nothing after it reached the same level.
- Sold 4 million DVDs and Blu-rays.
- Only 95 minutes long because there's essentially no plot.
- Two Chainz's song 'Trap Back' samples the audio from the Pam/drum set scene.
- Kanye West quoted 'Don't lose your dinosaur' in an interview.
- Adam McKay's genesis for the movie was wanting to see bunk beds collapse on two grown men.
- They shot enough footage for a 4-hour movie.
- The Ringer published an oral history of 'Step Brothers' the same week this episode aired.
- They officially retire the Danny Trejo 'Better With' category this episode.
Categories
Quote from Rog's review:
“Sometimes I think I am living in a nightmare. All about me, standards are collapsing, manners are evaporating, people show no respect for themselves.”
- Ebert trashed it – gave it just one star.
- Ferrell and McKay loved the review – McKay said it was his favorite review they ever got.
- The drum set scene – 'I know you touched my drum set' into 'Why are you so sweaty?' 'I was watching Cops.'
- The first dinner scene – 'Did we just become best friends?' 'Yup!'
- The bunk beds collapsing.
- The boat video – 'Boats 'N Hoes.'
- The Catalina Wine Mixer – 'POW!'
The gay slurs – this was the tail end of the era when comedies still used those freely. McKay acknowledged in the oral history that they wouldn't include them today.
- Jon Hamm auditioned for Derek – the guys agree he would have been interesting but Adam Scott owned the role.
- Thomas Lennon also auditioned for Derek.
- Kathryn Hahn – roughly 7 minutes of screen time, one of the funniest performances in any comedy. McKay said her first take was the greatest acting performance he'd ever witnessed.
- Rob Riggle as Randy.
- Andrea Savage as Denise.
- The bully kid who punches Brennan.
- Derek's son singing 'Sweet Child O' Mine' at the Catalina Wine Mixer.
Andrea Savage as Denise – perfectly deadpan, sells every line.
- Kathryn Hahn: Yes, 100% – this put her on the map.
- Adam McKay: Debated – they settle on The Big Short as his actual apex, but this is in the conversation.
- Adam Scott: Yes – this is the role that redefined his career before Parks and Rec.
- John C. Reilly: No – 'Boogie Nights' is his apex.
- Will Ferrell: No – he was in the middle of his run, not his peak. Anchorman or Elf is his apex.
Richard Jenkins's dinosaur monologue – 'Don't lose your dinosaur.' Entirely ad-libbed, McKay promised not to use it but put it in the movie anyway.
- Need more backstory on how Brennan and Dale become employed – they just suddenly have jobs at the end.
- The Catalina Wine Mixer scenes were actually shot on Malibu cliffs, not Catalina Island.
- The fake testicles Ferrell placed on the drum set cost between $2,000 and $20,000 – Ferrell kept them.
- John C. Reilly actually cried during the divorce scene – it was real emotion.
- Ferrell did his own singing throughout the movie.
- John C. Reilly actually played the drums.
- Adam Scott lip-synced 'Sweet Child O' Mine' at the Catalina Wine Mixer.
- The dinosaur monologue was completely ad-libbed by Richard Jenkins.
- Dr. Luke (later infamous music producer) did the music – he was the SNL house band guitarist.
- They shot enough footage for a 4-hour movie.
Discussed a prequel and a Cobra Kai-style sequel, but concluded the movie is perfect as-is and shouldn't be touched.
Adam McKay (consensus after debate). Bill initially said Ferrell, Chris argued for Hahn and Adam Scott, Sean said Reilly for degree of difficulty. But the oral history makes the case for McKay as the mastermind who orchestrated everything.