Latest news with #JohnCReilly
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In defence of Step Brothers: the platonic ideal of Obama-era comedy
It's 2008. George W Bush is wrapping up his presidency. The world's economy is in turmoil, but Obama is ascendant. The US's – and the world's – problems will soon be solved once and for all. The peak comedy of this era is, of course, Step Brothers. Adam McKay's previous hit collaborations with Will Ferrell, Anchorman and Talladega Nights, hit a rich seam of man-children being elevated to folk-hero status. We could call it a thematic trilogy, if we were being a bit pretentious – like Ingmar Bergman's faith trilogy, but with more prosthetic testicles. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning In Step Brothers, the duo finally boil their theme down to its bare bones: two grown men in their 40s inexplicably acting like 10-year-old boys. Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (John C Reilly) are brought under one roof by the marriage of their parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins). At first, they respond the way any prepubescent imps would, with territorial acrimony and spite, before forming an alliance over their mutual hatred of Brennan's brother Derek (Adam Scott). Brennan and Dale are the epitome of what would later be known online as 'large adult sons' – giant, gormless failures, sheltered by low expectations. They brawl, assemble bunk beds, and destroy the lives of their retirement-aspirant parents with the destructive force of dogs who don't know their own size. These are the men of the 2000s: outsize children running rampant in a world that lets them do so. Critics were displeased. 'Another unashamedly juvenile comedy,' wrote Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw. 'When I left, I felt a little unclean,' said Roger Ebert. 'In its own tiny way, it lowers the civility of our civilisation.' Nothing will get me in the theatre faster than an affront to civility. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion There are the prosthetic testicles, of course, and there's dog poo, farting, and raucous sex scenes. But Step Brothers transcends all that and builds its own world. It's juvenile and sublime, dumb and clever, dated and timeless. Ferrell and Reilly have a unique chemistry. They are revolting and endlessly endearing, skating easily over the script's cracks. Together, they invite us to laugh at a dying breed – the coddled, mediocre man – but also celebrate him. As with McKay and Ferrell's previous films, it's a man's world. Women condemn, but are ultimately enthralled by, this masculine freedom. Steenburgen's Nancy can't help but protect her large adult son from a world that expects too much (anything) from him. The film's innate irony, meanness, and childishness are the dying embers of the Gen X sensibility – a generation which, as the comedian Stewart Lee once wrote, 'profiteered from the assumption that political correctness was a done deal, and now we could have fun jumping in and out of its boundaries, like street kids round a spurting water main.' But of course, these men weren't dying out. They were mutating into something worse: media behemoths, CEOs and presidents. The dominance of the idiot man was far from over, but it's far more cruel than innocent. The large adult sons who rule the world are still ridiculous, but they're winning. This may explain why, after Step Brothers, McKay's films got angrier and more literal. His next, the 2010 buddy-cop comedy The Other Guys, ends on an unparalleled bit of tonal whiplash, as the credits are splashed with infographic stats about the beneficiaries of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Big Short, Vice, and Don't Look Up are angry polemics dressed up as comedies. 'Can you believe they're getting away with this?' he seems to be yelling at us. Yes. Yes I can. 'Sometimes I think I am living in a nightmare. All about me, standards are collapsing, manners are evaporating, people show no respect for themselves.' That, once again, is Roger Ebert in his 2008 review of Step Brothers. Roger, it was a beautiful dream, and one I cherish. The nightmare is now. Step Brothers is available to stream on Netflix, Stan, Binge and Prime Video in Australia and available to rent in the UK and US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In defence of Step Brothers: the platonic ideal of Obama-era comedy
It's 2008. George W Bush is wrapping up his presidency. The world's economy is in turmoil, but Obama is ascendant. The US's – and the world's – problems will soon be solved once and for all. The peak comedy of this era is, of course, Step Brothers. Adam McKay's previous hit collaborations with Will Ferrell, Anchorman and Talladega Nights, hit a rich seam of man-children being elevated to folk-hero status. We could call it a thematic trilogy, if we were being a bit pretentious – like Ingmar Bergman's faith trilogy, but with more prosthetic testicles. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning In Step Brothers, the duo finally boil their theme down to its bare bones: two grown men in their 40s inexplicably acting like 10-year-old boys. Brennan (Ferrell) and Dale (John C Reilly) are brought under one roof by the marriage of their parents (Mary Steenburgen and Richard Jenkins). At first, they respond the way any prepubescent imps would, with territorial acrimony and spite, before forming an alliance over their mutual hatred of Brennan's brother Derek (Adam Scott). Brennan and Dale are the epitome of what would later be known online as 'large adult sons' – giant, gormless failures, sheltered by low expectations. They brawl, assemble bunk beds, and destroy the lives of their retirement-aspirant parents with the destructive force of dogs who don't know their own size. These are the men of the 2000s: outsize children running rampant in a world that lets them do so. Critics were displeased. 'Another unashamedly juvenile comedy,' wrote Guardian reviewer Peter Bradshaw. 'When I left, I felt a little unclean,' said Roger Ebert. 'In its own tiny way, it lowers the civility of our civilisation.' Nothing will get me in the theatre faster than an affront to civility. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion There are the prosthetic testicles, of course, and there's dog poo, farting, and raucous sex scenes. But Step Brothers transcends all that and builds its own world. It's juvenile and sublime, dumb and clever, dated and timeless. Ferrell and Reilly have a unique chemistry. They are revolting and endlessly endearing, skating easily over the script's cracks. Together, they invite us to laugh at a dying breed – the coddled, mediocre man – but also celebrate him. As with McKay and Ferrell's previous films, it's a man's world. Women condemn, but are ultimately enthralled by, this masculine freedom. Steenburgen's Nancy can't help but protect her large adult son from a world that expects too much (anything) from him. The film's innate irony, meanness, and childishness are the dying embers of the Gen X sensibility – a generation which, as the comedian Stewart Lee once wrote, 'profiteered from the assumption that political correctness was a done deal, and now we could have fun jumping in and out of its boundaries, like street kids round a spurting water main.' But of course, these men weren't dying out. They were mutating into something worse: media behemoths, CEOs and presidents. The dominance of the idiot man was far from over, but it's far more cruel than innocent. The large adult sons who rule the world are still ridiculous, but they're winning. This may explain why, after Step Brothers, McKay's films got angrier and more literal. His next, the 2010 buddy-cop comedy The Other Guys, ends on an unparalleled bit of tonal whiplash, as the credits are splashed with infographic stats about the beneficiaries of the sub-prime mortgage crisis. The Big Short, Vice, and Don't Look Up are angry polemics dressed up as comedies. 'Can you believe they're getting away with this?' he seems to be yelling at us. Yes. Yes I can. 'Sometimes I think I am living in a nightmare. All about me, standards are collapsing, manners are evaporating, people show no respect for themselves.' That, once again, is Roger Ebert in his 2008 review of Step Brothers. Roger, it was a beautiful dream, and one I cherish. The nightmare is now. Step Brothers is available to stream on Netflix, Stan, Binge and Prime Video in Australia and available to rent in the UK and US. For more recommendations of what to stream in Australia, click here
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jack White gets 50th birthday serenade from John C. Reilly at Detroit Tigers game
Detroit rocker Jack White got to celebrate his 50th birthday Wednesday, July 9, in grand and quirky hometown style: with a rendition of "Happy Birthday to You" from actor friend John C. Reilly at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers. Reilly, clad in a Tigers baseball jersey, stepped to the mound ahead of the team's game versus the Tampa Bay Rays. At first, it looked to be your standard ceremonial first pitch by a visiting celebrity. White, a lifelong Tigers fan, sat in a stadium suite with his wife and mom. Then came the moment that clearly surprised White: With a count of "1, 2, 3," Reilly led the crowd in a birthday serenade to his musician pal. did they just become best friends??jk, they already were — Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 9, 2025 The live sing along was followed by "Seven Nation Army" over the PA at Comerica Park, where that White Stripes classic has been a longtime go-to song for the Tigers. Reilly is a Chicago-born comic actor and musician who befriended White years ago through their shared bond as Midwestern-raised Catholics. In 2011, he released a pair of country singles via White's Third Man Records and more recently took a starring role in the music video for "Archbishop Harold Holmes," a hit track from White's "No Name" album. In a follow-up interview July 9 in the Tigers' broadcast booth, Reilly confirmed that the supersized birthday greeting was a surprise for White, who didn't even know his actor friend was at the ballpark. Reilly also noted that his jersey was the same one he wore in the 1999 movie "For Love of the Game," the Kevin Costner film in which Reilly played a fictional Tigers catcher. White, a southwest Detroit native, was born on July 9, 1975. He went on to form the White Stripes and lead a Motor City rock renewal at the turn of the 21st century. Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: John C. Reilly sings Jack White happy birthday at Detroit Tigers game
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John C Reilly Is a Fast-Talking, Electrifying Preacher in Jack White's 'Archbishop Harold Holmes' Music Video
John C Reilly stars as a fast-talking, electrifying preacher in the music video for Jack White's song "Archbishop Harold Holmes" The Chicago actor released his debut album What's Not to Love? on Friday, June 13 "Archbishop Harold Holmes" is on White's 2024 album No NameCan John C. Reilly get an amen? In the music video for Jack White's "Archbishop Harold Holmes," released on Tuesday, June 17, the Step Brothers actor stars as a fast-talking preacher whose electrifying words compel churchgoers to find bliss and tell seven friends about his promises, among other things. "Dear friend, if you want to feel better/Don't let the devil make you toss this letter/If you've been crossed up by hoodoo voodoo/The wizard or the lizard," Reilly, 60, lip-synchs to White's rock song. "You got family trouble? Man trouble? Woman trouble?/No light through the rubble?/You're looking for a true friend or a true lover/Or if you've been living undercover," he continues, "I'm coming to your town to break it all down." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The lyrics and visuals are reminiscent of another Harold, Professor Harold Hill of The Music Man, telling the residents of River City about the disastrous pool hall. Despite his seemingly well-intentioned messages, Archbishop Harold Holmes might not be the best spiritual leader, as fans will see at the end of the music video. "Archbishop Harold Holmes" comes from White's 2024 album No Name. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Fans were thrilled about the collaboration between Reilly and White, 49. "Perfect match," one wrote. "a godly combo I never would've anticipated- Jack white and John C [Reilly]," another declared. "If ever a song needed a video, it's this one. Can't misss with JCR. ⚡️⚡️⚡️," someone else wrote. "Really can't think of a better person to cast," chimed in another. "John C. Reilly in a Jack White MV? This was never going to be on my bingo card but I'm sure as hell glad it's here," concluded one fan. This isn't Reilly's first foray into the music world. He starred in the 2002 movie musical Chicago as Amos Hart, which got him nominated for the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Academy Award. He also played the titular role in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. He also released his debut album, What's Not to Love?, which honors the Great American Songbook, on June 13. "I looked at our weary world a few years ago and tried to think of a way I could spread love and empathy," Reilly said of the album in a statement. "I decided the most fun way to do that was through performing and singing and telling people I loved them." "So the emotional vaudeville show Mister Romantic was born, out of both hope and despair. What's Not to Love? Is a collection of songs from the show with some cinematic audio weaved in." What's Not To Love and No Name are available to stream. Read the original article on People
New York Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
As Mister Romantic, John C. Reilly Just Wants to Spread Love
John C. Reilly has been a staple of Paul Thomas Anderson's films, starred in serious and satirical biopics, made a legend of a man-child stepbrother, and was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 for his haunting turn as Amos — 'Mister Cellophane' — in 'Chicago.' But the character closest to him just might be a know-nothing who emerges, openhearted and singing, from a box. For the past three years, Reilly, 60, has performed as Mister Romantic, a retro crooner who just wants to find everlasting love. A vaudeville-esque act of his own creation with mostly American songbook numbers — 'What'll I Do,' 'Dream' — and a backing band, it's a quasi-improvised set that has him interacting with the audience in a way that's sometimes wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere. Connection, of any kind, is the point. After a series of sold-out shows in Los Angeles, Reilly is taking his persona on the road, to Cafe Carlyle starting Wednesday. And he is releasing a concept album, 'What's Not to Love?,' his renditions of classics and more, on Friday. His alter ego's origins are deep-seated. 'I've been a romantic person my whole life,' Reilly said. 'My mother would play these standards on the player piano at our house, and I would sing along.' It was 'Mister Cellophane' that reawakened in him, he said, an appreciation for a bygone era of theatricality. He finished shooting the HBO series 'Winning Time,' about the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers, on a Friday, 'and on Monday night, I had my first Mister Romantic show,' he said. 'I was like, oh, I just want to get out onstage and express myself.' Image John C. Reilly's Mister Romantic project includes a cabaret show and a new album, 'What's Not to Love?' Mister Romantic at work. Reilly's Oscar-nominated role in 'Chicago' reawakened a love of theatricality. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
