Special to CNN
(CNN) -- Stop me if you've heard this one before, but producer Judd Apatow has another hit comedy on his hands. This time it's "Step Brothers," an astute no-brainer that's also Will Ferrell's funniest effort since "Talladega Nights."
Will Ferrell, left, and John C. Reilly, right, play in-laws who find themselves at odds.
It's no coincidence that Ferrell is back with the "Talladega" team: "Anchorman" director Adam McKay and co-star John C. Reilly. All three share a story credit, while Ferrell and McKay are listed as co-writers.
In "Step Brothers," Ferrell is Brennan Huff, a 40-year-old virgin (probably) who still lives with his mom, Nancy (Mary Steenburgen). Reilly is Dale ("Call me Dragon"), the equally immature son of Dr. Robert Doback (Richard Jenkins). When Nancy and Robert get married, the new siblings make no effort to conceal their hostility.
These aren't middle-aged sad-sacks so much as overgrown teenagers -- Wayne and Garth with curlier hair. They wear Yoda T-shirts, dream of rock stardom and get their jollies over back issues of "Good Housekeeping." When Robert really has to get tough -- much too late, obviously -- he bans them from watching TV.