Directed by: Adam McKay. Starring Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Richard Jenkins, Mary Steenburgen, Adam Scott, Gillian Vigman, Seth Rogen. Comedy.
SYNOPSIS: TWO MIDDLED AGED DIVORCEES FALL MADLY IN LOVE AND FIND THAT THEY BOTH HAVE 40-SOMETHING SONS WHO STILL LIVE WITH THEM AT HOME.
O.k., the first thing you will think is the premise of this flick is ridiculous, but my glance around modern society shows me, at least, that the premise of a 30-something or 40-something living with their parent(s) is not, in and of itself, that far fetched. Happens a lot for a wide variety of reasons.
What makes this setting a little hard to buy and, therefore, funny, is that the two malingerers, 39 year old Brennan (Will Ferrell Talladega Nights, The Ladies Man) and 40 year old Dale (John C. Reilly Boogie Nights Platoon) are not only still with their parents, but have really never left home. Plus, they exhibit all of the maturity of (badly behaving)15 year olds.
Brennan's mom (Mary Steenburgen Philadelphia ) has just hooked up with the man of her dreams (Richard Jenkins Burn After Reading) and both of these successful, but too doting, parents are amazed and happy to find they each have middle aged sons attached to them at the hip. They have plans, as a comfortable retirement is just over the horizon, but, you guessed it, after they get married they have both the sons living with them under the same roof and, well, the boys will just have to get along.
As you would guess, they don't, at least not initially, both being resentful that the attention of their parent is now diverted elsewhere. As you would guess with two comedic actors of this stature, the movie spends a good bit of time on hilarious sketches/scenes that play to the strengths of both Mr. Ferell and Mr. Reilly. In fact, you could make a very cogent argument that putting these two in some silly situations and letting them indulge their talent is really the whole point of the movie and the other stuff is just there to frame the skits into a film.
I liked that the film gives some more depth-as well as some of the laughs-to the characters of Jenkins and Steenburgen, who are both very funny in their own right here.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that Mr. Ferrell's movies are formulaic but, lets be honest, if you know his movies and/or are a fan, you pretty much know what to expect.
And I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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