Crude; juvenile; and proud of it; Step Brothers stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as two 40-year-old men; both living at home and leading the lives of 13-year-old boys; who are thrown together when their single parents (Mary Steenburgen; Parenthood; and Richard Jenkins; Six Feet Under) get married. Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (Reilly) start out hating each other as only teenage boys can--but things get even worse for their long-suffering parents when they become best friends. Step Brothers gets most of its mileage from very lowbrow humor; but hidden among the farts and masturbation jokes is the suggestion that while these guys may be emotionally arrested; so are Brennan's hotshot business executive brother (Adam Scott; Tell Me You Love Me) and his high-fiving frat-boy pals; just in a way that's condoned because it makes money. Also crucial is that Ferrell and Reilly capture adolescence in all its gruesome glory--the awkward insecurity but also the egomaniacal; arrogant self-centeredness. Mind you; this isn't the American version of The 400 Blows or anything--one of the movie's setpieces features Brennan tea-bagging Dale's drum set (and if you don't know what tea-bagging is... well; you will after seeing this movie). All in all; Step Brothers combines the adolescent humor of producer Judd Apatow (Superbad; Knocked Up) and the comic chemistry of Ferrell and Reilly (who previously costarred in Talladega Nights)--fans of either will find plenty to enjoy. --Bret Fetzer

Stills from Step Brothers (click for larger image)