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Movie Review

Step Brothers

Starring: Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly

Rated R Columbia Productions 2008

How long can Will Ferrell last? I was watching a Reno 911 episode in which before Deputy Trudy Wiegel thought she was going to die, she wanted to thank Will Ferrell and she didn’t know why. I empathize with the sentiment. Ferrell has brought me the most genuine laughter above all other comedic actors. And when he is partnered up with Adam McKay, the unbridled laughter is almost a guarantee. But like with any hype, Will Ferrell’s limitations will inevitably accompany his video saturation. When Ferrell made films such as Kicking and Screaming and Elf, I wished he would make more adult-targeted comedies. Now that he is, I find some parts absolutely hilarious and other parts too lewd. Nonetheless, I appreciate Will Ferrell because of his natural ability to make almost any situation hilarious, and the majority of Step Brothers is no different.

Ferrell’s character is Brennan, a 40 year-old child forced to live with Dale (John C. Reilly) after their generous parents fall in love and get married. Ferrell tests the limits of crude humor and frankly, he wins. When goaded by Dale, his fellow free rider, Brennan is sometimes reserved. In one dinner scene, he breaks down into a silent cry and has to leave the room. At other times, Brennan unloads spastic outbursts. There is a hysterical drum scene that best reflects this split personality.

Step Brothers is absolutely ridiculous. The plot is weak, but that is not why people go and see Ferrell films. They go to laugh, and I sincerely laughed throughout. I will definitely see Step Brothers again. However, I could not help but wonder how much longer Ferrell’s improvisations will continue to humor me. Hopefully, for much longer. But as a pragmatist, I can only be skeptical.

My friend proposed that the epitome of improvisational comedy would be a Will Ferrell-Dave Chappelle movie, where Will plays the black man and Dave Chappelle, of course, plays the straight-laced white man. Such a juxtaposition would result in a definite laugh riot. Hopefully Will and Dave can understand this equation and encourage their respective agents to work together and produce a film. To read other movie reviews by Jason Alyesh, click here

Movie Review

Iron Man

Directed by Jon Favreau

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jeff Bridges

PG-13 Paramount Pictures 2008

The flashy special effects were expected, but what makes Iron Man superb is the womanizer-turned-humanitarian protagonist Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey Jr. Why? Perhaps it is the conflicted man that Downey appears to be. Perhaps it is the improvisation freedoms that Director Jon Favreau allowed Downey. For any or many reasons, Downey hit the character of Tony Stark on its head. Tom Cruise and Nicholas Cage, who also expressed interest in the film, could not have captured the character of corporate superhero nearly as well.

Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, a child prodigy who inherited the weapons corporation Stark Industries from his father. On his way back from a weapons demonstration at an American army base in Afghanistan, Stark’s caravan is attacked by terrorists, who order him to build a sophisticated missile for them or die. Instead, Stark creates the prototype for the Iron Man exoskeleton and escapes. This experience changes Stark’s attitudes about Stark Industries’ mission, and his decision to dissolve the weapons manufacturing division of the company creates new enemies back in the States.

I especially liked the incorporation of the War On Terror into the film. Favreau’s decision not to do a period piece—the Iron Man comic book originated around Vietnam—brought a sense of realism that I think hit more close to home. The movie deals with real-life issues, and at no point is the audience compelled to question the practicality of the plot, which is a good sign, especially for superhero films.

When asked about his motivation, Downey explained, “What I usually hate about these [superhero] movies [is] when suddenly the guy that you were digging turns into Dudley Do-Right, and then you’re supposed to buy into all his ‘Let’s do some good,’ that Eliot Ness-in-a-cape type thing. What was really important to me was to not have him change so much that he’s unrecognizable. When someone used to be s schmuck and they’re not anymore, hopefully they still have a sense of humor.”

I’ve always enjoyed Robert Downey Jr., more because of his personality than his acting ability. The delivery and context of his wit has always entertained me (see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang). The flaws of Downey fit well with the flaws of Tony Stark. Only time will tell if this proves true in the sequels, as Marvel Entertainment, Paramount, and the original actors have all signed on to a trilogy. The Iron Man 2 sequel is scheduled for release on April 30, 2010.

Movie Review

Bigger, Stronger, Faster*

Directed by Christopher Bell

2008 Rated PG-13

As I settled into my seat, I wondered what to expect. The preview poster adorned figures of Barry Bonds, Arnold as Governor, and Hulk Hogan. I certainly did not want to see a documentary vilifying steroids. Nor did I want to be barked at by proponents claiming the drug is harmless. The three gorilla-sized heads sitting in front of me brought fears of the latter. But what transpired was a documentary that was surprisingly objective, and very informative.

The film follows the lives of director Christopher Bell, himself conflicted about using steroids, and his two brothers, admitted beneficiaries of the drug. Throughout his sojourns, Bell uncovers a double standard in American culture: the negative spin that is the propaganda, and the don’t ask/don’t tell politics that is the reality. At one point Bell alludes to the issue of immigration. He hires “illegals” to help him concoct his own weightlifting supplement, in an effort to expose the lack of regulation in the industry. Whether Bell intentionally juxtaposed the issue of steroids with that of immigration, which suffers a similar propaganda-reality disparity, is unknown. What is known is that many musclemen of the 80s that Bell idolized were and may still be taking steroids, yet for whatever reasons, keep it taboo. Bell’s jokes resemble the antics of a Michael Moore Film: the tragic humor is often in the blithe ignorance and folly that comes from unsuspecting interview questions.

One criticism is that Bell may be too much like Michael Moore—–right down to his voice overs and the USC cap he wears in almost every scene (Moore wears a Michigan cap). However this does not diminish the message of the film, nor the public service that it provides. I simply could not shake off the similarities between Bell and Moore’s styles.

Review By Jason Alyesh