Latest news with #StepBrothers
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In defence of Step Brothers: the platonic ideal of Obama-era comedy
It's 2008. George W Bush is wrapping up his presidency. The world's economy is in turmoil, but Obama is ascendant. The US's – and the world's – problems will soon be solved once and for all. The peak comedy of this era is, of course, Step Brothers. Adam McKay's previous hit collaborations with Will Ferrell, Anchorman and Talladega Nights, hit a rich seam of man-children being elevated to folk-hero status. We could call it a thematic trilogy, if we were being a bit pretentious – like Ingmar Bergman's faith trilogy, but with more prosthetic testicles. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning In Step Brothers, the duo finally boil their theme down to its bare bones: two grown men in their 40s inexplicably acting like 10-year-old boys. Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (John C Reilly) are brought under one roof by the marriage of their parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins). At first, they respond the way any prepubescent imps would, with territorial acrimony and spite, before forming an alliance over their mutual hatred of Brennan's brother Derek (Adam Scott). Brennan and Dale are the epitome of what would later be known online as 'large adult sons' – giant, gormless failures, sheltered by low expectations. They brawl, assemble bunk beds, and destroy the lives of their retirement-aspirant parents with the destructive force of dogs who don't know their own size. These are the men of the 2000s: outsize children running rampant in a world that lets them do so. Critics were displeased. 'Another unashamedly juvenile comedy,' wrote Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw. 'When I left, I felt a little unclean,' said Roger Ebert. 'In its own tiny way, it lowers the civility of our civilisation.' Nothing will get me in the theatre faster than an affront to civility. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion There are the prosthetic testicles, of course, and there's dog poo, farting, and raucous sex scenes. But Step Brothers transcends all that and builds its own world. It's juvenile and sublime, dumb and clever, dated and timeless. Ferrell and Reilly have a unique chemistry. They are revolting and endlessly endearing, skating easily over the script's cracks. Together, they invite us to laugh at a dying breed – the coddled, mediocre man – but also celebrate him. As with McKay and Ferrell's previous films, it's a man's world. Women condemn, but are ultimately enthralled by, this masculine freedom. Steenburgen's Nancy can't help but protect her large adult son from a world that expects too much (anything) from him. The film's innate irony, meanness, and childishness are the dying embers of the Gen X sensibility – a generation which, as the comedian Stewart Lee once wrote, 'profiteered from the assumption that political correctness was a done deal, and now we could have fun jumping in and out of its boundaries, like street kids round a spurting water main.' But of course, these men weren't dying out. They were mutating into something worse: media behemoths, CEOs and presidents. The dominance of the idiot man was far from over, but it's far more cruel than innocent. The large adult sons who rule the world are still ridiculous, but they're winning. This may explain why, after Step Brothers, McKay's films got angrier and more literal. His next, the 2010 buddy-cop comedy The Other Guys, ends on an unparalleled bit of tonal whiplash, as the credits are splashed with infographic stats about the beneficiaries of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Big Short, Vice, and Don't Look Up are angry polemics dressed up as comedies. 'Can you believe they're getting away with this?' he seems to be yelling at us. Yes. Yes I can. 'Sometimes I think I am living in a nightmare. All about me, standards are collapsing, manners are evaporating, people show no respect for themselves.' That, once again, is Roger Ebert in his 2008 review of Step Brothers. Roger, it was a beautiful dream, and one I cherish. The nightmare is now. Step Brothers is available to stream on Netflix, Stan, Binge and Prime Video in Australia and available to rent in the UK and US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In defence of Step Brothers: the platonic ideal of Obama-era comedy
It's 2008. George W Bush is wrapping up his presidency. The world's economy is in turmoil, but Obama is ascendant. The US's – and the world's – problems will soon be solved once and for all. The peak comedy of this era is, of course, Step Brothers. Adam McKay's previous hit collaborations with Will Ferrell, Anchorman and Talladega Nights, hit a rich seam of man-children being elevated to folk-hero status. We could call it a thematic trilogy, if we were being a bit pretentious – like Ingmar Bergman's faith trilogy, but with more prosthetic testicles. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning In Step Brothers, the duo finally boil their theme down to its bare bones: two grown men in their 40s inexplicably acting like 10-year-old boys. Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (John C Reilly) are brought under one roof by the marriage of their parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins). At first, they respond the way any prepubescent imps would, with territorial acrimony and spite, before forming an alliance over their mutual hatred of Brennan's brother Derek (Adam Scott). Brennan and Dale are the epitome of what would later be known online as 'large adult sons' – giant, gormless failures, sheltered by low expectations. They brawl, assemble bunk beds, and destroy the lives of their retirement-aspirant parents with the destructive force of dogs who don't know their own size. These are the men of the 2000s: outsize children running rampant in a world that lets them do so. Critics were displeased. 'Another unashamedly juvenile comedy,' wrote Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw. 'When I left, I felt a little unclean,' said Roger Ebert. 'In its own tiny way, it lowers the civility of our civilisation.' Nothing will get me in the theatre faster than an affront to civility. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion There are the prosthetic testicles, of course, and there's dog poo, farting, and raucous sex scenes. But Step Brothers transcends all that and builds its own world. It's juvenile and sublime, dumb and clever, dated and timeless. Ferrell and Reilly have a unique chemistry. They are revolting and endlessly endearing, skating easily over the script's cracks. Together, they invite us to laugh at a dying breed – the coddled, mediocre man – but also celebrate him. As with McKay and Ferrell's previous films, it's a man's world. Women condemn, but are ultimately enthralled by, this masculine freedom. Steenburgen's Nancy can't help but protect her large adult son from a world that expects too much (anything) from him. The film's innate irony, meanness, and childishness are the dying embers of the Gen X sensibility – a generation which, as the comedian Stewart Lee once wrote, 'profiteered from the assumption that political correctness was a done deal, and now we could have fun jumping in and out of its boundaries, like street kids round a spurting water main.' But of course, these men weren't dying out. They were mutating into something worse: media behemoths, CEOs and presidents. The dominance of the idiot man was far from over, but it's far more cruel than innocent. The large adult sons who rule the world are still ridiculous, but they're winning. This may explain why, after Step Brothers, McKay's films got angrier and more literal. His next, the 2010 buddy-cop comedy The Other Guys, ends on an unparalleled bit of tonal whiplash, as the credits are splashed with infographic stats about the beneficiaries of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Big Short, Vice, and Don't Look Up are angry polemics dressed up as comedies. 'Can you believe they're getting away with this?' he seems to be yelling at us. Yes. Yes I can. 'Sometimes I think I am living in a nightmare. All about me, standards are collapsing, manners are evaporating, people show no respect for themselves.' That, once again, is Roger Ebert in his 2008 review of Step Brothers. Roger, it was a beautiful dream, and one I cherish. The nightmare is now. Step Brothers is available to stream on Netflix, Stan, Binge and Prime Video in Australia and available to rent in the UK and US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Catalina Island feels like an idyllic escape from reality – and it's only an hour from LA
CATALINA ISLAND, California – Just 22 miles offshore the coast near Los Angeles sits a small island that feels like arriving at another country. As the only inhabited of the Channel Islands, Catalina Island's natural beauty stuns with turquoise waters beneath cliffside homes, evoking the charm of Italy's Amalfi Coast. It's been deemed to have one of the prettiest small towns in California and as a locals-only secret for a scenic getaway, but the 76-square-mile isle can also burst to life if an event is being held. I had the chance to witness the island pulse with energy for its popular event that kicks off the summer season: the Catalina Wine Mixer. If the name sounds familiar, you likely heard it from the 2008 hit comedy "Step Brothers," featuring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The fictional event was hailed in the film as "the biggest helicopter-leasing event in the Western Hemisphere," and it was the turning point for the two middle-aged characters to go from butting heads to bonding. It culminates in the final scenes of the movie. To say it's become an iconic event for the island is a bit of an understatement, as it just celebrated its decennial. "The real Catalina Wine Mixer was an idea the Catalina Island Company had 10 years ago as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the wildly popular Step Brothers movie," Hunter Rusack, chief operating officer for Catalina Island Company, told USA TODAY in a statement. "It began as a fun way to bring visitors to the island and has grown into the annual celebration of the film's cult following." Over 3,000 travelers descended on Catalina this year to live out the real-life wine mixer, with events hosted around the only city of Avalon – which feels more like a small village than a city. All weekend, people proudly wear custom made T-shirts repping the faces of the two actors or the most famous lines from the movie. Others simply enjoy sipping a variety of wine against the backdrop of Mt. Orizaba, the island's tallest mountain peak. The wine mixer is meant to be unadulterated fun, boosted by the island's sunwashed setting. No matter what travelers seeking, whether fun or relaxation, the idyllic isle offers a refreshing break from the daily grind – and it's just an easy hour-long ferry ride from the greater Los Angeles area. This is the charm of Catalina Island. What is Catalina Island? Catalina Island sits as the southernmost of the Channel Islands, an archipelago comprising Channel Islands National Park although it's not part of it. The island's first inhabitants were the Gabrielino Indigenous Peoples, and the island has changed ownership since the 1800s until purchased by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. His descendants still own the island today under the Catalina Island Company. With pastel-colored bungalows from the 20th century and white Mediterranean villas nestled into the mountainside, the island blends the atmosphere of a European resort town with Southern California's coastal appeal. The island's home to only two towns, Avalon and Two Harbors, with the rest being stewarded by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Facing a harbor filled with sailboats, Avalon is the island's main tourist hub, and where most tourists will stay, from hotels such as the century-old Hotel Atwater to Airbnbs. Travelers can also camp, with several campgrounds around the island and some being more secluded and adventurous to get to. Its Front Street lined with boutiques and restaurants like Flx Biergarten, Avalon Grille and the waterfront Pier 24. If travelers want to do more exploring, there are also various hikes and activities such as camping, open-air Hummer tours, ziplining, diving, snorkeling, and more. The pace of Catalina is leisurely, with most coming to relax or be active outdoors. (While out in nature, you may spot one of the island's bison, which were brought over for the filming of 'The Vanishing American' in the 1920s.) To preserve its peaceful ambiance, the island restricts the number of cars allowed. Longtime residents have been grandfathered in, otherwise newcomers have to join a 25-year waiting list to bring their vehicle. If you need motorized transportation, travelers can ride a golf cart. The city is entirely walkable, taking around 20 minutes to cover. What is the Catalina Wine Mixer like? The wine mixer takes place around Avalon, prompting guests to get to know the island. (Shuttles are also available to transport guests.) It starts on a Friday evening with a VIP reception at the Catalina Country Club. Later, during the movie screening in the historic 1920s-era Catalina Casino, the audience bursts into cheers with die-hard fans quoting the entire movie. Saturday afternoon is the main event with wine tastings from over 15 wineries along the Californian coast on the lawn of the Descanso Beach Club, reminiscent of those in Europe, and live music. There's also a VIP lounge nearby for breaks from the sun, and food is included. The wine mixer used to be held in September, but now ushers in the summer. "A few years back, we moved the event to late May as a springboard to the busy summer season," said Rusack. Tickets for the Catalina Wine Mixer range from $139 for general admission to $499 for VIP. How do you get to Catalina Island? While you can actually lease a helicopter to Catalina Island like the movie jokes, the easiest – and most cost-effective – way is by taking a ferry from ports around the greater Los Angeles area, including Long Beach, Dana Point, San Pedro and Newport. There are two options, the Catalina Flyer or Catalina Express. I took the Catalina Express from Long Beach, and the ride on its large, high-speed catamaran took approximately 75 minutes to reach Avalon. It has multiple departures a day until 6 p.m. For a quieter experience, the private lounges upstairs cost extra but are more comfortable with wider seats. A one-way ticket costs $42 for an adult in June, and it's advised to get yours ahead of time as they can sell out. Although visiting during the wine mixer felt like an especially lively environment, I was still enchanted by Catalina's beauty and laid-back ambience – just the views alone from the Descanso Beach Club were stunning. Knowing it's a brief ferry ride away from Los Angeles, I'm already thinking of returning to experience more of what the island has to offer.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John C Reilly Is a Fast-Talking, Electrifying Preacher in Jack White's 'Archbishop Harold Holmes' Music Video
John C Reilly stars as a fast-talking, electrifying preacher in the music video for Jack White's song "Archbishop Harold Holmes" The Chicago actor released his debut album What's Not to Love? on Friday, June 13 "Archbishop Harold Holmes" is on White's 2024 album No NameCan John C. Reilly get an amen? In the music video for Jack White's "Archbishop Harold Holmes," released on Tuesday, June 17, the Step Brothers actor stars as a fast-talking preacher whose electrifying words compel churchgoers to find bliss and tell seven friends about his promises, among other things. "Dear friend, if you want to feel better/Don't let the devil make you toss this letter/If you've been crossed up by hoodoo voodoo/The wizard or the lizard," Reilly, 60, lip-synchs to White's rock song. "You got family trouble? Man trouble? Woman trouble?/No light through the rubble?/You're looking for a true friend or a true lover/Or if you've been living undercover," he continues, "I'm coming to your town to break it all down." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The lyrics and visuals are reminiscent of another Harold, Professor Harold Hill of The Music Man, telling the residents of River City about the disastrous pool hall. Despite his seemingly well-intentioned messages, Archbishop Harold Holmes might not be the best spiritual leader, as fans will see at the end of the music video. "Archbishop Harold Holmes" comes from White's 2024 album No Name. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Fans were thrilled about the collaboration between Reilly and White, 49. "Perfect match," one wrote. "a godly combo I never would've anticipated- Jack white and John C [Reilly]," another declared. "If ever a song needed a video, it's this one. Can't misss with JCR. ⚡️⚡️⚡️," someone else wrote. "Really can't think of a better person to cast," chimed in another. "John C. Reilly in a Jack White MV? This was never going to be on my bingo card but I'm sure as hell glad it's here," concluded one fan. This isn't Reilly's first foray into the music world. He starred in the 2002 movie musical Chicago as Amos Hart, which got him nominated for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Academy Award. He also played the titular role in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. He also released his debut album, What's Not to Love?, which honors the Great American Songbook, on June 13. "I looked at our weary world a few years ago and tried to think of a way I could spread love and empathy," Reilly said of the album in a statement. "I decided the most fun way to do that was through performing and singing and telling people I loved them." "So the emotional vaudeville show Mister Romantic was born, out of both hope and despair. What's Not to Love? Is a collection of songs from the show with some cinematic audio weaved in." What's Not To Love and No Name are available to stream. Read the original article on People
The Irish Sun
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Nepo baby's TV star dad makes rare appearance on her TikTok – but can you guess who she is?
A RISING influencer has left fans doing a double take after her famous TV star dad made a rare appearance in one of her TikTok videos. The Hollywood actor made a rare appearance alongside his daughter as they shared the sweet father-daughter moment. 5 The rising TikToker shared a video with her famous dad making a rare appearance Credit: tiktok@francescascottspamtiktok 5 Adam Scott currently plays Mark Scout in the popular Apple+ series Severance Credit: Alamy Severance and Step Brothers actor Adam Scott reenacted a famous Kardashians scene with his daughter, Francesca "Frankie" Scott. Frankie, 16, shared a TikTok with her dad to her 17.1k followers with the caption: "Me informing my dad of my weekend plans." She lip-synced to the famous sound of Kim Kardashian explaining her "busy week" to her former brother-in-law Scott Disick. Fans were left stunned as her famous father rarely makes an appearance on her social media posts. read more on hollywood But fans also can't believe Adam is old enough to have a 16-year-old daughter. TikTokers went into a frenzy, with one user commenting: "How is Adam Scott my age who also has a daughter that's my age!" Another added: "I'm shocked Adam Scott has a daughter this old." A third penned: "Adam Scott is old enough to have a baddie daughter? What!" Most read in Celebrity A fourth wrote: It appears that I've severely underestimated Adam Scott's age." Adam has been married to TV producer Naomi Sablan since 2005, and the couple share two kids – 16-year-old daughter Frankie and 18-year-old son Graham. Nepo baby with Hollywood A-list parents lands huge movie role - can you guess who she is? Adam first shot to fame back in the '90s with his breakout role as Griff in But it was his stint in hit comedy Step Brothers and later as Ben Wyatt – Amy Poehler's on-screen hubby in Parks and Recreation – that made him a household name. He's now swapped laughs for something much darker, starring in the critically acclaimed Apple TV+ thriller Severance, where he plays Mark Scout - a man trapped in a sinister workplace secret. Severance follows employees at Lumon Industries, where they undergo a "severance" procedure, separating their work memories from their personal lives. This premise allows for exploration of themes like identity, control and the human psyche. The show's narrative, with its blend of sci-fi, thriller, and workplace drama, has captivated audiences. The series is a massive streaming phenomenon - breaking records, amassing billions of viewing minutes and cementing its position as Apple TV+'s biggest hit. The ensemble cast also includes John Turturro, Britt Lower and The acclaimed drama scored a 96 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and has been It has built a strong and passionate fanbase with many claiming the series as "best show on TV and has a chance to be an all time great" on Reddit. Another added: "It is definitely one of the best psychological sci fi thriller series ever created." A third penned: "It's so good that I don't see how it's possible for season 2 to stay at this level, but we'll see." 5 Adam also starred in the hit comedy Step Brothers Credit: Alamy 5 He now plays Mark Scout in Severance - a man trapped in a sinister workplace secret Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 5 After phenomenal ratings success, it has been renewed for third series Credit: AP
