I know I’m probably going to get slammed for saying this, but, I’m getting sick of Will Ferrell comedies. Don’t get me wrong, I have been a huge fan of Ferrell since before he had this huge mega-following (did anyone even see him in Dick?). And I’m not saying that Will Ferrell isn’t funny, because he is. I’m just getting sick of the type of comedies he’s been doing for the last few years. Sure, I laugh at the jokes, and my friends quote some of the lines, but a movie needs to be more than a few good jokes, some quotable lines, and a sorry formulaic storyline. I think what I’m looking for is something more in line with a Judd Apatow comedy. (Note: this rant doesn’t include Stranger Than Fiction, which I actually dugg a lot)
But my friend Neil at Film School Rejects has read the script for Ferrell’s upcoming comedy, Step Brothers, and insists that it is hilarious. Ferrell and John C. Reilly play two spoiled guys who become competitive stepbrothers after their single parents get married. I also think Reilly is hilarious, and have thought so since Boogie Nights. And it’s a shame that more people didn’t see Walk Hard. If you told me 5 years ago that Ferrell and Reilly were going to team up for a comedy, I would have been extremely excited. But Step Brothers is directed by the same guy who brought us Talladega Nights…
Aside from the bunk bed sequence towards the end (which has already been done in other comedies), I’m really not sure about this movie. I mean, It looks funnier than Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but what doesn’t? Watch the movie trailer for Step Brothers below, and tell me what you think.
You can also watch the new trailer in High Definition on Yahoo! Movies. Step Brothers hits theaters on July 25th 2008.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
See “Stranger Than Fiction”. Without a doubt the best movie Will Ferrel has ever done.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
God, I’m weak. I see Will Ferrell’s face and start laughing. I cackled a good three or four times during this preview. I don’t care how long he keeps doing the same schtick… I’m still a sucker for it.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I lol’ed at that, looking forward to it.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
How could you not find that funny Pete?
February 27th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
And the Sarah Marshall trailer was funny, it’s definitely one of my most anticipated comedies for the year.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I too am sick of the formulaic Ferrell comedy - but this trailer is pretty funny. I like Adam McKay’s work too, he pushes his films into some absurd territory.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Let me clarify: I did think parts of this trailer were funny but not laugh out loud funny. The bunk bed bookend was the only thing I was impressed with (and as i mentioned in the article, this is a gag that has been done in many movies before this one. It’s nothing original).
And I’m not knocking Sarah Marshall. It looks okay to good, but not great. And this is coming from a guy who saw a lot of footage this past weekend at Comic Con. If Judd Apatow wasn’t producing this, and Kristen Bell wasn’t in a bikini, I’m not sure how much I would be really looking forward to this…
February 27th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
i agree w/you, peter - this latest basketball movie from farrell is just the nascar/ice skating film re-packaged…
i will not pay money to see it.
i also liked ’stranger than fiction’ a lot - a very original film. i wish farrell would take the time to do more of them. if he does come out with an original comedy; i’m all for that - but these buddy/sports/comedy films have grown tired.
that is all.
JS
February 27th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
That was laugh out loud funny!
February 27th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
this looks funny as hell!
February 27th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Oh man, OH MAN! Will Ferrel in Generic Formula #12.
What’s next? Will Ferrel as man-boy who hitchhikes across the country to find his father who left when he was just a baby?
Or maybe he’ll play a man-boy who plays organized rugby and is forced to grow up when its found out that some evil corporation is trying to buy his team.
I love the work Ferrel did on SNL, most especially Celebrity Jeopardy, but enough is enough. Please, Ferrel, for the love of God, do another movie like Stranger Than Fiction. We know you’re funnier than your movies let on, so let those creative talents free!
February 27th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
First off, the Ferrell formula is getting a bit old, but I still think it’s really, really funny. If the movie was just Ferrell and Reilly talking for two hours about nothing, I’d go see it. Step Brothers also looks much funnier than any of his movies since Anchorman, and funnier than any non-Apatow movie in a while.
And second, I got to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The trailer made it look like a second-rate romantic comedy, but all of Apatow’s trailers don’t do justice at all to the movies themselves. It’s at least as funny as Knocked Up, maybe not Superbad, but definitely more consistently funny (and a better movie) than the underperforming Walk Hard (which I also liked a lot). It may not be his best, but it’s really, really funny (and a solid movie too).
February 27th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
This looks funny, but not spend money at the theater funny. Rental or wait the two-three years before it shows up on basic cable.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
i liked a joke about john stamos. :)
February 27th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
He is just a money making machine. He can pull off any roll. Let it ride. He is doing a great job.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Ya but I enjoy that he knows its getting old. The other morning on the Dan Patrick show he was talking about getting into a Curling project he heard was making the rounds.
I am going to see a small art house film in Pasadena Friday night and jamming home to see the last showing of Semi Pro.. Not proud of it, but he figured out the combination to my wallet.
February 27th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
did not lol.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:17 am
This trailer sort of rocks. It’s like if the Asian half-brother in Gleaming the Cube had lived and knew karate. It rocks pretty hard. And it’s Rated-R. Ferrell is hit or miss, but this movie cannot suck.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:44 am
While I agree that the Will Ferrell formula has been used and abused, this does look funny. If they can muster a decent story who knows. Otherwise it’s ‘Talladega Nights”.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:54 am
I hate Will Ferrell. Hate hate hate.
Sorry for breaking commenting rule #1
February 28th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Will is more miss than hit for me.
That bunk bed scene was nothing new or even anything you didn’t see coming from a mile way… BUT coupled with “do you like guacamole?” - fuuuuunnnnnyyyyy!
February 28th, 2008 at 5:46 am
I’m not a fan of Ferrell at all, and didn’t laugh during this trailer. I don’t know, he simply doesn’t do it for me.
But he was funny in ‘Dick’ (yay, I’m apparently not the only person who saw this movie :), and I must admit I also liked ‘Stranger Than Fiction’, although the latter wasn’t really a comedy.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:55 am
I would have thought he would be taking the comedy to serious route ala carrey and now it seems carrell(sp?).
February 28th, 2008 at 8:02 am
long as he doesn’t make kicking & screaming 2 im happy, and that trailer looks great, much more promising for me than semi-pro
February 28th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I’ll pass.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:27 am
awesome…awesome awesome awesome….You gotta love John C Reily….and with Will Ferrell…Jeez…i think they needed a movie outside of their racing jumpsuits to really show the audience how funny they are together….Its fuckin Johnny C…look at the poster…its like 40 year old virgin times 2….movie looks great but not all time…i will see this in the theater
February 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Judd Apatow is producing this.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
The problem I have with Will Ferrell movies is that they just have him playing different variations of the same character. I mean I think he’s funny as hell he just needs the right story and script. everything else is in place and i think the McKay/Ferrell/Reilly team can definately make something great. It’s just that they aren’t pushing the envelope enough.
Anchorman was Rated PG-13, but they had to re-edit to get the rating. So for a PG-13 movie it was pushing the envelope. Then there was Old School that was rated R and he was hilarious in that too.
I laughed at this trailer so I’m hoping that the movie has some gold in it, but I’m starting to lose faith. I’d rather wait 4 years for a classic will ferrell role then 6 months for a recycled one. Put in some work boys!
Peter, this trailer was good
February 28th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Are they mentally challenged ? Why do they act like 6 year old? That’s funny?
February 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I see the point that he pretty much plays the same role over and over, but I think the trailer is hilarious. (Best line: “I forgot to ask, do you like guacamole?”) If it’s true that Apatow is producing it, then I am officially excited for it.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
No thanks. Pass.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Will Is my homeboy sure the movies he’s in aren’t written well but still… you just ROFL at him
February 29th, 2008 at 1:00 am
The Movie Delivers Lulz
February 29th, 2008 at 2:48 am
I do agree with the whole formula thing, It gets old, but I just fuckin love Ferrell and this looks really funny. Blades of Glory sucked and Kicking & Screaming sucked(aside from the stuff with Mike Dicka) but I’ve loved everything else. On a side not, how funny was his cameo in wedding crashers.
March 18th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Watching that trailer makes me cry with laughter,
I think the haters are taking the plot too serious. The storyline is meant too be so terrible that it makes it even more funnier man!
Will Ferrell can do no wrong, not even in bewitched! Just looking at him makes me crack up. The more stupid the better. I simply love it all.
Shake n bake!!!!!!
March 28th, 2008 at 1:55 am
if you ever talk about will ferrel like that again ill murder your family you cock sucker!
April 7th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
if you have a good sense of humor you should find will ferrell and his movies hilarious. except for stranger than fiction was quite lame. but don’t be hating… all u geeks out there
April 7th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
jake! you should try anger management… lol
June 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Get sick of these two? Never. When you need a break from real life, Talledaga Nights is all I need to put me in a better mood. Reilly and Ferrell are entertainers and can entertain me any day! Can’t wait for July 25th!
July 1st, 2008 at 3:28 pm
will ferrell will never top anchorman . . he is still hilarious tho
July 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
This guy at top is not thinking forgetting Sarah marshall was one of the funniest movie judd apatows performances besides superbad.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 am
Crikey. Hasn’t he already done this movie? Several times over?