Review: Old, familiar faces aside, this X-Files sequel unfortunately doesn’t satisfy the itch for more Scully and Mulder paranormal adventures.

Story: The first problem is the title: I Want to Believe? Not at all mysterious as an X-Files title should be. What it points to, however, is the age-old question of why former FBI agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) – now a recluse hiding out from the FBI and cutting out newspaper articles – believes in the unexplainable, while Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) – now a pediatric doctor – continues to discount it. But rather than going into more back story on what these two have been up to (are they living together?), I Want to Believe jumps right into the middle, as if “X-Files” just went off the air a few months ago and this movie is just a continuation of one of the episodes. The story centers around a missing FBI agent and a former priest-turned-convicted pedophile (Billy Connolly), who seems to have psychic abilities in finding her. Of course, it gets weirder, but not in the ways you want or expect from an X-Files movie; it’s more “CSI” than UFO. Now, if at some point, after Scully furrowed her brow at Mulder, her head were to split open and his long-missing sister popped out, THAT would be something.

Acting: You can’t completely knock Duchovny and Anderson for I Want to Believe’s faults. Their Mulder and Scully are the yin and yang of the strange and unexplainable who still have that it’s-so-complicated-but-I-really-do-love-you relationship, which made the show work so well. Even if the plot to this sequel needs a lot more explanation than what is given, Duchovny and Anderson slip right into it without blinking an eye, which is somewhat comforting. Everyone else, however, is entirely misplaced – from Connolly as Father Joe, just trying to find redemption for his crimes, to Amanda Peet as the FBI agent in charge of the case who brings the outlawed Mulder in to help and ends up flirting with him. Huh? There are also some well-placed X-Filers making appearances, but really, it’s all about Mulder and Scully – once again.

Direction: Director/creator of X-Files Chris Carter has taken the wrong approach with I Want to Believe. Instead of making a bigger X-Files movie, to keep up with the first X-Files feature film with even more out-of-this-worldliness, he decides to bring it in and make it more, well, normal. That may have worked with the TV show, but not on the big screen. We want the spaceships. An X-Files movie, even to laymen fans, means you should be seeing some kind of super-paranormal activity – or at least something levitating. Let’s just say a psychic former priest who bleeds from his eyes is not exactly aliens and government cover-ups. I Want to Believe also rivals Fargo for its endless snowy vistas, but while Fargo uses the weather to its advantage, this X-Files just leaves you feeling cold. If the truth is really out there, this time it’s not very exciting.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 1 1/2 stars.

Review: A killer concept that has been turned into a sometimes amusing, occasionally hilarious summer laugh fest, Step Brothers should please Will Ferrell fans.

Story: Will Ferrell is back on-target in the dumb movie sweepstakes as Brennan Huff, an over-grown, overly sensitive son who has never bothered to move out of single mom’s (Mary Steenburgen) house even though he’s 40. When she meets, falls in love with and marries an older doctor (Richard Jenkins) all before the opening credits are over, Brennan must move into his new stepfather’s home where – you guessed it – 39 year-old loser and would-be musician Dale Doback (John C. Reilly) has been living with Dad all these years as well. The new siblings, who give stunted growth a whole new definition, bunk together like 10-year olds with an instant rivalry that causes havoc in the household. Soon they find themselves birds of the same feather when fed-up dad announces he is selling the house and going on an around-the-world cruise with his new bride. The hapless pair are ordered to find decent jobs and a new place to live – a prospect neither relishes.

Acting: After an earlier misstep this year with the inane Semi-Pro, Ferrell is back in his comfort zone and finding new sparks opposite Reilly, who despite the failure of his recent starring comedy Walk Hard, continues to show natural comedic abilities. The two are fun to watch as they mine a lot of laughs playing imbecilic but lovable adolescent middle-aged men – Peter Pans who just never grew up. Still, it’s the supporting cast that really shines. Jenkins – enjoying the best year of his career especially with his stellar turn in The Visitor is now complementing it with his riotous portrait of a put-upon dad, dealing with a couple of morons who have overstayed their welcome by about 20 years. Steenburgen manages to invest the rather colorless mother role with dignity, even earning a couple of laughs on her own. Adam Scott as Ferrell’s real-estate mogul brother is consistently fun, particularly in leading a family sing-a-long while driving to bro’s house. Also of note, Kathryn Hahn as his mousy but extremely kinky wife who tries to get down and dirty with Reilly.

Direction: Ferrell’s writing partner Adam McKay is not only co-scripting again but back behind the camera, guiding Ferrell’s and Reilly’s on-screen nuttiness. Adam McKay, an “SNL” veteran who was responsible for two of Ferrell’s biggest hits, Anchorman and Talladega Nights knows from experience exactly how to take these over-the-top situations and wring every last laugh out of them. Movies like this are hit and miss, so give McKay credit for hitting more than he misses. Each actor, even the lesser-billed ones, have their moments to shine, and it’s a nice tribute to McKay’s laid back direction that none of them bellyflop. The premise of Step Brothers clearly presented some potentially rich comic possibilities and McKay and company uncover most of them. Certainly the film should strike a responsive chord with those faced with grown kids either coming back home to live or never leaving in the first place – if not quite to THESE extremes.

Bottom Line: Hollywood.com rated this film 2 1/2 stars.