Starring: Will Farell, John C. Reilly and Richard Jenkins
Directed by: Adam McKay (Talledega Nights, Anchorman)
If the trailers didn’t have you laughing, don’t worry, there are still plenty more laughs to go around in this 90 minute laugh-fest. What you didn’t see in the trailer were some other ridiculously crude moments that provide some of the biggest laughs. The trio that made “Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” work so well are back for more as Will Farell, John C. Reilly, and director Adam McKay all have a hand in providing what could be the funniest movie you see in 2008.
Hopefully by now you haven’t had enough of Will Farell because what you get here is more trademark delivery and improvisational freak outs that he has really mastered. While there is plenty of physical comedy to go around for the slap stick lovers, there are also plenty of well written lines between Dale (Reilly) and Brennan (Farell) and enough secondary characters like Derek (Adam Scott), Brennan’s brother.
Dale and Brennan’s parents get married, but both parents have their 40-something year old sons living with them. They all move in together and while they at first find it hard to live with each other (exemplified in a ridiculously hilarious banter in Dale’s room while they are sleeping), they’re hatred for Derek brings them together along with the same taste in men that they would sleep with if they were females. Dale’s father, Robert (Jenkins) can only tolerate so much before he begins losing it on the kids. He forces them to pursue a job (in which Seth Rogan makes a cameo as an employer) and even considers a divorce from Brennan’s mother, Nancy. Thus, the boys embark on a new trail to save their parents marriage and clean themselves up in the process.
The storyline seems quite sentimental, but the laughs are pretty consistent and quick. There are plenty of moments that hardcore Will Farell fans everywhere (like myself) will die laughing from because of his character’s subtle stupidity at times. There are plenty of long-time laughs (including a hilarious sleep walking scene) and a good enough story line to keep plot picky people interested.
One should applaud the writing and directing because of finding comedy in this particular situation. Dysfunctional families always provide sitcom-like laughter and this certainly differs from that. Given the R-rating, you can go in expecting them not to hold back and once you see a particular scene, you will understand what I’m saying. It does however have plenty of toilet humour and really could be enjoyed and understood by kids who aren’t even in their teens yet. Reilly and Farell are both really talented enough to play these parts with ease and provide plenty of laughs in the process. It isn’t a type of mature comedy that Judd Apatow (who Co-produced this) provided us with on “Knocked Up” but it really is a great 90 minute time out at the movies. Have a great time and just enjoy the show.
Overall Score: 78/100
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