Episode 38 - "Step Brothers"
09/25/23 • 38 min
Welcome back to Analyze Scripts, where a psychiatrist and a therapist analyze what Hollywood gets right and wrong about mental health. Today, we're analyzing one of Dr. Furey's favorite movies - the 2008 comedy "Step Brothers" starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. In this lighthearted episode, we use the comedic depiction of two 40-something year-old men living with their parents to discuss failure to launch syndrome and common difficulties encountered when blending families. We also explore the depiction of an enabling vs dismissive parent, the thrapist-patient dynamics between Brennan and Denise, and the classic narcissistic traits embodied by evil older brother Derek. We hope you enjoy!
[00:10] Dr. Katrina Furey: Hi, I'm Dr. Katrina Fury, a psychiatrist.
[00:12] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And I'm Portia Pendleton, a licensed clinical social worker.
[00:16] Dr. Katrina Furey: And this is Analyze Scripts, a podcast where two shrinks analyze the depiction of mental health in movies and TV shows.
[00:23] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Our hope is that you learn some legit info about mental health while feeling like you're chatting with your girlfriends.
[00:28] Dr. Katrina Furey: There is so much misinformation out there, and it drives us nuts.
[00:32] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And if someday we pay off our student loans or land a sponsorship, like.
[00:36] Dr. Katrina Furey: With a lay flat airline or a major beauty brand, even better.
[00:39] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn.
[00:42] Dr. Katrina Furey: And your DSM Five and enjoy. Welcome back for another episode. I am personally thrilled to be talking about one of my favorite movies of all time, the 2008 smash hit Step Brothers. I feel like in rewatching it for this podcast, I didn't even need to. I know every single line of dialogue, but I still love it so much.
[01:20] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I think my husband's favorite movie of all time.
[01:23] Dr. Katrina Furey: Yes. This movie also happens to always be on every time I'm in a hotel on TBS or where they're censoring a lot of the dialogue. It's still funny.
[01:34] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Yeah. This movie is just, like, iconic. The cast is ridiculous. Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Adam Scott. We have Mary Steenbergen, who's also the mom and elf.
[01:46] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Yes.
[01:46] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Which we're going to be will Ferrell. So it's just like I think he likes working with her. She likes working with him. It's just they're great.
[01:53] Dr. Katrina Furey: I love it. Yeah.
[01:54] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Her voice and her mannerisms, I just love.
[01:57] Dr. Katrina Furey: She was so good in this role. Like, all the times when her and Richard Jenkins, who plays Jobak, like, when you can tell he's trying to lay down the law, and she's like, Robert thinks we agree. It's time for you to move, know. Or like, when he's so mad they destroyed his boat with the boats and host thing. And she's like, I am so upset that you two destroyed his boat. That being said, I thought you showed a lot of enthusiasm and inventiveness. And I was like, in some ways, you're so enabling them, but in other ways, that's so loving.
[02:33] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: She reminds me a lot of the actress herself and the roles that she's playing reminds me of the wife in What About Bob?
[02:43] Dr. Katrina Furey: Yes.
[02:44] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: She plays similar roles. She has a very similar cadence.
[02:48] Dr. Katrina Furey: The way she sort of like light, airy voice. I totally agree. Totally agree. And then we have Catherine Hahn as Alice, who is Adam Scott's wife. What do you think about the scene with them in the car with their children singing?
[03:04] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I sing along every time. It is so funny. I think I sing this in the car sometimes with know, I'm not a great like, I can tell that I'm not good, so I have an ear.
[03:17] Dr. Katrina Furey: And I know you're not the little boy's role.
[03:20] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: No.
[03:20] Dr. Katrina Furey: You might be Catherine. I think I'm her.
[03:22] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And someone can yell, flat.
[03:24] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Flat.
[03:25] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: One $200 voice lessons a week. Offer this. And I was like, wow, that is so mean. So mean.
[03:32] Dr. Katrina Furey: He is so mean to everyone. Right?
[03:35] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Like, brutal, slurs aside. Like, mean.
[03:44] Dr. Katrina Furey: Do you think he is a narcissist?
[03:47] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I think that he is a not human person....
Welcome back to Analyze Scripts, where a psychiatrist and a therapist analyze what Hollywood gets right and wrong about mental health. Today, we're analyzing one of Dr. Furey's favorite movies - the 2008 comedy "Step Brothers" starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. In this lighthearted episode, we use the comedic depiction of two 40-something year-old men living with their parents to discuss failure to launch syndrome and common difficulties encountered when blending families. We also explore the depiction of an enabling vs dismissive parent, the thrapist-patient dynamics between Brennan and Denise, and the classic narcissistic traits embodied by evil older brother Derek. We hope you enjoy!
[00:10] Dr. Katrina Furey: Hi, I'm Dr. Katrina Fury, a psychiatrist.
[00:12] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And I'm Portia Pendleton, a licensed clinical social worker.
[00:16] Dr. Katrina Furey: And this is Analyze Scripts, a podcast where two shrinks analyze the depiction of mental health in movies and TV shows.
[00:23] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Our hope is that you learn some legit info about mental health while feeling like you're chatting with your girlfriends.
[00:28] Dr. Katrina Furey: There is so much misinformation out there, and it drives us nuts.
[00:32] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And if someday we pay off our student loans or land a sponsorship, like.
[00:36] Dr. Katrina Furey: With a lay flat airline or a major beauty brand, even better.
[00:39] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn.
[00:42] Dr. Katrina Furey: And your DSM Five and enjoy. Welcome back for another episode. I am personally thrilled to be talking about one of my favorite movies of all time, the 2008 smash hit Step Brothers. I feel like in rewatching it for this podcast, I didn't even need to. I know every single line of dialogue, but I still love it so much.
[01:20] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I think my husband's favorite movie of all time.
[01:23] Dr. Katrina Furey: Yes. This movie also happens to always be on every time I'm in a hotel on TBS or where they're censoring a lot of the dialogue. It's still funny.
[01:34] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Yeah. This movie is just, like, iconic. The cast is ridiculous. Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Adam Scott. We have Mary Steenbergen, who's also the mom and elf.
[01:46] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Yes.
[01:46] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Which we're going to be will Ferrell. So it's just like I think he likes working with her. She likes working with him. It's just they're great.
[01:53] Dr. Katrina Furey: I love it. Yeah.
[01:54] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Her voice and her mannerisms, I just love.
[01:57] Dr. Katrina Furey: She was so good in this role. Like, all the times when her and Richard Jenkins, who plays Jobak, like, when you can tell he's trying to lay down the law, and she's like, Robert thinks we agree. It's time for you to move, know. Or like, when he's so mad they destroyed his boat with the boats and host thing. And she's like, I am so upset that you two destroyed his boat. That being said, I thought you showed a lot of enthusiasm and inventiveness. And I was like, in some ways, you're so enabling them, but in other ways, that's so loving.
[02:33] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: She reminds me a lot of the actress herself and the roles that she's playing reminds me of the wife in What About Bob?
[02:43] Dr. Katrina Furey: Yes.
[02:44] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: She plays similar roles. She has a very similar cadence.
[02:48] Dr. Katrina Furey: The way she sort of like light, airy voice. I totally agree. Totally agree. And then we have Catherine Hahn as Alice, who is Adam Scott's wife. What do you think about the scene with them in the car with their children singing?
[03:04] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I sing along every time. It is so funny. I think I sing this in the car sometimes with know, I'm not a great like, I can tell that I'm not good, so I have an ear.
[03:17] Dr. Katrina Furey: And I know you're not the little boy's role.
[03:20] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: No.
[03:20] Dr. Katrina Furey: You might be Catherine. I think I'm her.
[03:22] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And someone can yell, flat.
[03:24] Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Flat.
[03:25] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: One $200 voice lessons a week. Offer this. And I was like, wow, that is so mean. So mean.
[03:32] Dr. Katrina Furey: He is so mean to everyone. Right?
[03:35] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Like, brutal, slurs aside. Like, mean.
[03:44] Dr. Katrina Furey: Do you think he is a narcissist?
[03:47] Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I think that he is a not human person....
Previous Episode
Episode 37 - "The Bear" Season 1
Welcome back to Analyze Scripts, where a psychiatrist and a therapist analyze what Hollywood gets right and wrong about mental health. Today, we are analyzing "The Bear" season 1. We meet the chefs and other restaurant staff this season and WOW, was anyone else's heart racing? We root for Carmy and the restaurant to be successful but see poor interpersonal skills, trauma, grief and trust issues impact everyone. Mikey's story line is tragic and unfortunately a common reality when mental health issues combine with substance abuse and financial troubles. Be sure to watch this show with some snacks, we hope you enjoy!
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Hi, I'm Dr. Katrina Fieri, a psychiatrist.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And I'm Portia Pendleton, a licensed clinical social worker.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: And this is Analyze Scripts, a podcast where two shrinks analyze the depiction of mental health in movies and TV shows.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Our hope is that you learn some legit info about mental health while feeling like you're chatting with your girlfriends.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: There is so much misinformation out there, and it drives us nuts.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And if someday we pay off our student loans or land a sponsorship, like.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: With a lay flat airline or a major beauty brand, even better.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: And your DSM Five and enjoy. We get started. We just wanted to include a trigger warning for this episode. This episode could include discussion about some themes and topics that might be upsetting, including, but not limited to things like substance abuse, suicide, self harm, disordered, eating, and harassment and assault. So if any of those topics are too upsetting, we totally get it. Please feel free to skip this episode and join us next week. Otherwise, we hope you enjoyed.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Hi. So we are back again with another episode, and we are going to refer to each other today as, like, yes.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Drink, yes shrink, yes, chef, cousin, cousin.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Whatever kind of comes to mind. We're not going to be swearing and putting each other down.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Hopefully not kind of abusive, which we.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: See a lot in the show. The Bear, which you're coming today. Season one, kind of blew up recently over the summer. I definitely had not heard about it last year.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: I hadn't really either.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: It was all over, like, TikTok. A couple months ago, Jeremy Allen White.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Is all in the news because he got a divorce. And I don't know all the details about it, but it seems to be, like a hot.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Yeah, yeah. People really like. So what how do you want to start talking about this? First, I would like to say that my blood pressure was so high, I'm making this up.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Okay. You weren't, like, checking it?
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: No. Watching some of these episodes, this level of stress that I was feeling, and my heart was racing, I was like, I feel like I'm back in a restaurant, and I'm not. Okay.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Yeah, you worked in a restaurant too at some point, right? Yeah, I did too. Only for, like, six months. Like, in between college and med school, I took a year off to apply, and it was really stressful. I worked in a Mexican restaurant. It's closed now, unfortunately, one of the owners embezzled money and went to federal prison. Fortunately. But I was trying to get out of this other job, and so when I applied, I said I was available for all shifts. So I got all the lunch shifts and made, like, no money, and I would have to come in early and clean, like, literally move the heavy tables, clean the windows. It was, like, a lot of hard work.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: It's like, labor, labor, physical labor.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: I lost a lot of weight because you're, like, running around all day. And I'll never forget my last day was Cinco de Mayo. I was like, I have to work Cinco de Mayo. Right? I'll never forget. The floor was, like, so sticky with tequila. It was a good restaurant. The food was really good. But at the pre shift meeting, one of my coworkers was like, hey, guys, I got Adderalls. Does anyone want one? And all these people took Adderall. And I was like, I'm good. I'll be okay. I don't know. It really shocked me. But then I guess in watching this show, and I don't know if in your training, you learned that there's a lot of mental health issues in the restaurant industry. Because I learned that...
Next Episode
Episode 39 - "The Morning Show" Season 2
Welcome back to Analyze Scripts, where a psychiatrist and a therapist analyze what Hollywood gets right and wrong about mental health. Today, we review "The Morning Show" season 2. This season is pretty heavy with themes of substance abuse, toxic relationships and Mitch Kessler's [SPOILER ALERT] death by suicide. We spend time discussing cancel culture and the complexities of the human experience. We also explore Cory's charcter, is he hypomanic? Or is it more of an ADHD presentation we are seeing? Who does Bradley choose? Is everyone in love with their mother? Listen now to your favorite TV loving shrinks for our full break down. We hope you enjoy!
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Hi, I'm Dr. Katrina Fury, a psychiatrist.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And I'm Portia Pendleton, a licensed clinical social worker.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: And this is Analyze Scripts, a podcast where two shrinks analyze the depiction of mental health in movies and TV shows.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Our hope is that you learn some legit info about mental health while feeling like you're chatting with your girlfriends.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: There is so much misinformation out there, and it drives us nuts.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: And if someday we pay off our student loans or land a sponsorship, like.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: With a lay flat airline or a major beauty brand, even better.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: So sit back, relax, grab some popcorn.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: And your DSM Five and enjoy. We get started. We just wanted to include a trigger warning for this episode. This episode could include discussion about some themes and topics that might be upsetting, including, but not limited to things like substance abuse, suicide, self harm, disordered, eating, and harassment and assault. So if any of those topics are too upsetting, we totally get it. Please feel free to skip this episode and join us next week. Otherwise, we hope you enjoyed.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: Thanks for joining us today to cover the Morning Show season Two. If you have not listened to our take on season one, feel free to scroll back a couple episodes in our feed. Season two did come out in September of 2021, which was kind of in, like right. The throes still of COVID I mean, not like the Lockdown, which this show oh, my God. With that visual of New York City, which was eerie, to say the least. But did you watch this in real time?
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: No, I think I watched it last year, maybe, but rewatching it again. I had, like, a visceral reaction to all of the COVID stuff. What about you?
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: It was weird. I really like and we talked about this about season one, how they show, right? Like, real time things. And it's so funny thinking back to hearing about, you know, it was like, in more of the Asian countries in Asia. It was kind of, like, sprinkling through. And I remember having some friends traveling internationally and being like, yeah, it was weird. Like, a lot of people are wearing masks, not domestically. And then all of a sudden, it was here, right? And it was like this very March white. I don't know, like, the grocery stores were full, and then they were empty. Schools were open and they were closed. It wasn't a smooth transition. Oh, this is coming. It was just like, okay, we're making this decision.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: Oh, my gosh. I remember I'm so ashamed to admit this, but I was supposed to go on a bachelorette party to New Orleans, like, right in mid March, and it was for my very good friend, Dr. Kristen Heisel, an infectious disease physician at Mass General Hospital, so you can imagine what her March 2020 turned into. But as the news of COVID was, like, trickling in, I remember sitting in the psychiatrist talking to a colleague being like, this is just going to be like ebola where we all freaked out. And then it was fine. And I was like, trying to tell myself this because I really wanted to go on this Bachelorete trip and I feel so selfish saying that. Should we cut that? Like, does that make me look at.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: I can share a similar thing.
Dr. Katrina Furey, MD: But then my friend kristen called me after they had this super secret meeting at MGH and was like, we're not like, you need to go to the grocery store immediately. This is like a really big deal. Harvard is preparing. They've talked to like, this is going to be a really serious thing. And I was like, oh, my god. And then two days later, yeah, everything shut down.
Portia Pendleton, LCSW: It's funny because I was in DC. In February, like mid February, and there was still nothing. I don't know which speech I know that's not the right word for it was happe...
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