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'Step Brothers' With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey

July 13, 2018 · Step Brothers (2008) · Comedy · 1:03:47 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsPresented four nominees: first dinner scene, drum scene ending with yard fight, bunk beds breaking, and boat video. Also mentioned Catalina mixer as possibility.▶ 22:54
Chris RyanAdded grounding scene after drum set and job interviews as contenders, but didn't give definitive pick▶ 23:55
Sean FennesseyThe drum scene - 'I know you touched my drum set' through the fight▶ 25:56

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsThe drum set cost somewhere between a few thousand and $20,000, with McKay giving the designer a blank checkbook to make high-quality drums that Ferrell kept for dinner parties▶ 26:51

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsGay slurs in comedies - this was the tail end of that era before they became unacceptable▶ 27:56
Chris RyanAgrees the gay slurs are problematic, noting The Hangover is more guilty but they're present in this movie too▶ 28:08

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsJon HammDiscusses that John Hamm and Thomas Lennon were auditioned for Derek's role (which went to Adam Scott), noting that 'John Hamm as Derek is one of the better what ifs we've had'▶ 28:55
Sean FennesseyAdam ScottCompares John Hamm vs Adam Scott for Derek role, arguing Adam Scott was better choice because 'there's something evil about Adam Scott' and he's more punchable than the intimidating John Hamm▶ 29:03

Joey Pants Award

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsKathryn HahnCatherine Hahn - yes, Adam McKay - yes (though debates Big Short vs Step Brothers), Adam Scott - yes, Mary Steenburgen - no, Richard Jenkins - no, John C. Reilly - no (says Boogie Nights instead)▶ 41:02
Chris RyanAdam ScottFor Adam Scott discusses his Eastbound and Down performance as potentially better than Step Brothers. Agrees John C. Reilly's apex is Boogie Nights▶ 45:05
Sean FennesseyJohn C. ReillyAdam McKay hasn't hit apex yet, it's still ahead of him. For John C. Reilly prefers Magnolia over Boogie Nights▶ 44:33

Best Quote

Bill SimmonsHighlighted 'It's a fucking Catalina wine mixer, man' as the legacy quote and 'Did We Just Become Best Friends' as another big one, but said picking a best quote is impossible▶ 55:39
Chris RyanSaid the movie is all quotes and highlighted 'Why do you have Randy Jackson's autograph on a martial arts weapon?' as being as good as any quote in any movie▶ 55:59
Sean FennesseyFocused on Derek's quotes, particularly 'You know what gets my dick hard? Helping out my friends' and praised everything Derek says as funny▶ 56:09

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsDid Will Ferrell really last with The Therapist? Yes. It's a comedy, so you can't argue with it.▶ 56:40

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsAdam McKayMcKay (consensus pick after initially suggesting John C. Reilly for degree of difficulty)▶ 59:05
Chris RyanWill FerrellFarrell for his influence on everybody in the movie▶ 58:00
Sean FennesseyAdam McKayInitially suggested Farrell, then Riley, then wanted Han and Scott together, but agreed to consensus McKay▶ 57:40

Movies Referenced (49)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Boogie Nights (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 17:35
Big Daddy (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 4:55
Magnolia (1999)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 46:58
Midnight Run (1988)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons▶ 48:43
Zoolander (2001)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 3:47
Game Night (2018)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey▶ 7:48
Spotlight (2015)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 39:18
Angel Heart (1987)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:19
Bad Moms (2016)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 32:04
Bringing Down the House (2003)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 8:02
Friends with Benefits (2011)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 39:51
Killing Them Softly (2012)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey▶ 40:12

Directors Referenced (3)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Michael MannIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsThe Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 1:15
George Roy HillIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Slap Shot▶ 1:02:27
Paul Thomas AndersonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsPunch-Drunk Love, Licorice Pizza, There Will Be Blood▶ 59:37

Actors Referenced (64)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Will FerrellIMDb ↗Lb ↗36Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Blades of Glory▶ 1:50
Jonas BrothersIMDb ↗Lb ↗24Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 3:38
Adam ScottIMDb ↗Lb ↗17Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 12:44
John C. ReillyIMDb ↗Lb ↗16Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyGuardians of the Galaxy▶ 14:23
Richard JenkinsIMDb ↗Lb ↗15Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyThe Shape of Water, Step Brothers▶ 23:16
Danny TrejoIMDb ↗Lb ↗9Bill Simmons, Chris RyanMachete, From Dusk Till Dawn, Predators▶ 50:01
Diane LaneIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyUnfaithful, Under the Tuscan Sun▶ 1:00:28
Eddie MurphyIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyThe Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop II▶ 5:45
Rob RiggleIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Sean Fennessey, Bill SimmonsThe Hangover, 21 Jump Street▶ 29:22
Tiffany HaddishIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 6:55
Adam SandlerIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyBig Daddy, Little Nicky▶ 4:46
Jim CarreyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyAce Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind▶ 4:36

Writers Referenced (8)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Adam McKayIMDb ↗Lb ↗22Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanDon't Look Up, The Other Guys▶ 2:22
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 18:01
Andy GreenwaldIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 21:21
Danny McBrideIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanUnderworld▶ 45:27
Harold RamisIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsGhostbusters, Groundhog Day, Stripes▶ 11:33
Jesse ArmstrongIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris RyanIn the Loop▶ 44:45
Joey SolowayIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 32:26
Tom McCarthyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 39:18

Cinematographers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Todd HeaterIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean Fennessey▶ 11:06