Throughout Step Brothers, director Adam McKay captures the essence of growing up unwillingly in such a comedic way that it continuously brings me back to rewatching this movie over and over. Towards the end of the movie, Brennan (Will Ferrel) and Dale (John C Reilly) have finally overcome their differences and have become friends after being forced to be step brothers and roommates in their newly married parents house, although they are 39 and 40 respectively. What started as a hatred turned into a friendship through a shared passion of music and shared passion of hatred for Brennan's brother, Derek. Brennan, who has held his mother back by being needed by her well into his adult life, begins to grow up after making a mess of her marriage.
Brennan ends up working for his younger brother Derek (Adam Scott) who is, throughout the movie, a giant asshole. Derek offers Brennan a job reluctantly as a gift to their mother. Brennan takes the opportunity to plan the biggest party of the year, the Catalina Wine Mixer, where their company's biggest clients come to meet and see their new line of helicopter products for the following year.
This event wraps up this movie in the best possible way. The music planned for the party has a last minute cancellation and the only way to save Brennan's job is to have good music performing. This is the moment Brennan has been waiting for his whole life, he can finally be appreciated for his musical talent and also save his job. Brennan, who has hidden his singing since a traumatic experience in high school caused by his brother, saves the event with his beautiful cover of “Time To Say Goodbye.” This bravery from Brennan to break out of his shell had a domino reaction. It caused multiple people in the crowd to become their true selves and respark the passion in their lives. The camera pans to Derek and flashes back to childhood memories of Brennan being a great older brother and makes Derek weep with emotion. Brennan’s mother rekindles her romance with her husband and as the camera pans to them dancing together, it flashes back to the beginning of the film when they fall in love at first sight during his work presentation. Also, this scene is very bright and Brennan is wearing white, perhaps alluding to his being the guiding angel to people in his life and bringing back their passion by finally deciding to be himself and perform, which is something he previously loved to do. The performance ends in an eruption of cheer from the crowd and you can visually see how proud Brennan’s family is of him, and this is a look that did not exist throughout the course of this film. Brennan took a stand against his own anxiety and nerves, and through his bravery, finally gained the respect from his family he deserved, all while putting on a show for the masses with his beautiful voice.
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