u/FilmPeaks

I've been going back through some of my favorite and most quotable movies. After watching Hokum recently, with Adam Scott, I felt it was appropriate to revisit one of my absolute most favorite movies - Step Brothers.

Two aimless middle-aged losers still living at home are forced against their will to become roommates when their parents marry.

Written and directed by Adam McKay, he delivers us what I think is his best movie. He was an absolute legend throughout the 2000's when he (aside from producing) brought us Anchorman, Talladega Nights, The Other Guys, and more. Sure there are plenty of other bangers around that time, but his movies stand up there with the pinnacle of 2000's comedy.

The cast is stacked with some of the best in the business.

Will Ferrel and John C. Reilly as Derek and Brennan, need no introduction. They've been in many great films throughout the years. They were in Anchorman, but it wasn't until Talladega Nights that they formed their partnership. It was perfected here in Step Brothers, so it's a shame that the Holmes and Watson movie did so poorly that they haven't worked together since.

Adam Scott as Derek isn't too unlike his role in Hokum - a giant dick to people. However, besides Parks and Rec this is one of his most memorable roles for me. He doesn't have too many other roles where he isn't this awkward funny guy.

Kathryn Hahn straight from her introduction scene is hilarious. I think she's one of the funniest people in the business.

Mary Steenburgen plays Nancy Huff, but I don't think she's known for her comedy roles. How many pure comedies has she been in throughout the years? Given, this role from her previous work with Will Ferrel on Elf.

Richard Jenkins is such a crazy pull here. This guy has such a wide range of acting and has been in some of the most serious and intense films (anyone see Bone Tomahawk?).

This is the type of movie that was made for pure fun and laughs, and that's pretty much it. However, there are some decent character arcs and a nice hopeful message baked in as well. There's a "don't forget your dinosaur" message, meaning don't forget to do what makes you happy.

The music video they put together is a great little tune. Also, let's be real. This is the only reason people know about the Catalina Wine Mixer.

A great film if you just want to have a good time.

I quote this film multiple times a week to this day. Especially if anyone's using a drill / power tool around me. (Dale, no power tools!)

Here's the full review if you're interested

We've had a decent number of video game adaptations lately. Exit 8, The Mortuary Assistant, Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Iron Lung, the list goes on. Now, we have Mortal Kombat 2. Personally, I enjoyed the 2021 reboot. Was it perfect? No, but it's about all you can ask for in a fighting game adaptation.

It's the same director, Simon Quoid, who's really only known for the Mortal Kombat movies. So he's the Mortal Kombat guy now. However, I think this is an improvement over the first one. There was some criticism over the lack of tournament structure in the first one, which is addressed here.

I am a bit biased here, seeing I grew up playing the games on the Sega Genesis. I always favored the ninja looking characters - Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Reptile, Smoke, the robot guys. That being said, if you're going to see a Mortal Kombat movie you probably expect a few things; epic fights, brutal fatalities, cool stages, and a paper thin story. You get all of that in this film.

Shao Khan is about to win his 10th tournament in a row, and Earth must gather its best fighters to prevent that. There is a degree of side questing to pad things out a bit, but for the most part it is mostly fight after fight.

The cast is pretty stacked, we get most of the returning cast from the 2021 movie with the addition of Johnny Cage this time around, and Karl Urban does a great job (I still think his best role by FAR is Dredd). By the trailer and poster you'd think he's THE main character, but it's kind of a 50/50 split between him and Kitara. She witnessed her realm fall to Shao Khan and wants revenge. Adeline Rudolph did a pretty good job though.

The only casting choice I wasn't sure about was Baraka, he's a slithery savage fiend living in the bush, but his character is British in the movie. Also, Jade isn't really important except for one specific scene for the most part. On a side note, it's interesting that Tati Gabrielle's bald shtick can be enforced here - maybe to make all the ninja chicks look different?

I know it's not to be taken seriously but I do like that the best fighters in the realm are an ex-military guy with robot arms, an ex-military girl with pulse bracelets, a guy who can bicycle kick and shoot fire from his hands, and a guy who's just really good at martial arts.

There is some very noticeable green screen usage in some scenes, but the fight stages are the real spectacle. You get the spikes in the floor, the poison pools, etc.

Overall, a good time that has me looking forward to the next one. Definitely made for the fans, which I do appreciate, while trying to expand out to general audiences to a degree.

Check the full review here if you're interested because I do have some more thoughts on this but I want to avoid spoilers