The Classic Will Ferrell Easter Egg You Didn't Notice In Step Brothers
In the pantheon of gut-busting Will Ferrell comedies, "Step Brothers" remains one of his all-time classics. Marked as his second on-screen team up with co-star John C. Reilly, the film directed by Adam McKay ("The Big Short," "Vice") has a plot thin enough to cover the back of a cereal box, but one that's overflowing with quotable gags that never seem to age.
From Prestige Worldwide to a visceral assault on a drum set after a "COPS" episode, the story of two 40-something men that still live with their parents having to co-inhabit the newly formed family home is beautifully bonkers. It's also a credit to the ferociously funny chemistry between Ferrell and Reilly that bled over from their first team-up "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby." It seems that there was still a lot of love for the former founders of Shake and Bake, though, as there's one easter egg in "Step Brothers" that pays homage to their previous on-screen effort — and it comes with a tomato base.
Step Brothers' Talladega Nights Easter egg is pizza flavored
Filmed only a matter of years apart, "Step Brothers" (2008) actually gives a little nod to "Talladega Nights" (2006) in one of the movie's most beloved scenes, as pointed out by a sharp-eyed Reddit user.
During the insanely stupid show-and-tell of night vision goggles and discovering that they could be best friends, Brennan (Ferrell) reveals an essential bit of kit in the form of a samurai sword signed by Randy Jackson. While the focus is on Dale's confusion as to why this even exists, a bit of nearby paraphernalia in the man-children's room gives a subtle nod to the real-life pair's former NASCAR-fueled film in the form of a sign for Hugalo's Pizza. This is, in fact, the same company that Ferrell's character in "Talladega Nights" ends up working for after he loses his spot in the NASCAR racing world.
It's a Pixar-like blink-or-you'll-miss-it moment for Ferrell and Reilly fans, and a great nod to the other great comedy the pair were perfect in. If this was a subliminal message intended to make us want to watch two Ferrell films back-to-back, well, it works like an absolute treat.