The real enemy of "Step Brothers" is Brennan's egregiously successful younger brother Derek (Adam Scott), a superconfident go-getter whose mercenary brand of ingratiating narcissism makes him a parental favorite -- and unites Bren and Dale in their loathing.

CNN: Review: 'Step Brothers' full of funny stuff

Learning to negotiate a hard-bargain without being ingratiating and without trading power for sympathy is not beyond the ability of women.

FORBES: Negotiation is a Skill and Neither Gender is "Better"

Ms. Ephron's Mike McAlary is a hard-drinking tough-guy Irish reporter who lets fame and money go to his head and turns into a jerk, and Mr. Hanks, here as always, is too ingratiating ever to let himself become truly unlikable.

WSJ: The Who-Cares Test | 'Lucky Guy' | Mike McAlary |Nora Ephron | Tom Hanks | George C. Wolfe | 'Kinky Boots' | Harvey Fierstein | Cindy Lauper | By Terry Teachout