‘Daddy's Home’ Review
PG13: Thematic Elements, Crude and Suggestive Material and For Language.
Paramount Pictures, Red Granite Pictures, Gary Sanchez Productions
1 hr and 36 Minutes
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Hannibal Buress, Scarlett Estevez, Owen Vaccaro, with Thomas Haden Church, and Paul Sheer
Editor’s Note: This review was originally published during my adolescence. Outdated language might be seen in these old posts. Since then, my thoughts and values have grown. This review is being presented as they were originally written, grammatical errors and typos and all. Because to do otherwise would be that same as claiming these flaws has never existed.
BACKSTORY: Sunday December 13th, my sister and I go to the premiere of Daddy's Home. So we were at the very back of the line that was nearly towards the back. As we were doubting getting in, a friend of mine messages me saying how he had an RSVP ticket at the will call booth and told me to take it since he wasn't gonna attend. So we just skipped the entire line and got our tickets like the bosses we are and sat in the same room as Will Ferrell and Mark Whalberg watching their new comedy.
STORYLINE: A mild-mannered radio executive strives to become the best stepdad to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
REVIEW: When Will Ferrell and Adam McKay produce PG13 comedies, they tend to be more effective than the R rated ones. From Talladega Nights to Anchorman, their comedies mostly hit hard more than others. Comedy wise these films are successful mostly because Ferrell's character is a socially inept jackass who says the dumbest things which may be tedious in his roles sometimes, but usually tends to make the audience laugh. With Daddy's Home it feels like Ferrell's character is more mature this time around. He does dumb things time to time, but it's because Whalberg's character gets into his head. This time around he has a purpose to be stupid when it comes down to it. Though Ferrell is the mature and sensitive dad, Whalberg is playing the irresponsible and condescending and their bond is, barely even there. Since this is more of a versus film, the chemistry isn't there until it is essential to the plot. When the chemistry is needed for several scenes it feels genuine. The movie does a good job taking comedy and switching it over into a lesson that is handled cleverly. Other than that, Daddy's Home is not much of a comedy. This film really feels as if Will Ferrell became a dad so he had to take all the edge out of his material to make his kids happy. Seriously just like being a dad the comedy in the film is very domesticated. When a joke is set up in the beginning it goes quick to go the safe route and not take any chances. Then sometimes when it creates a funny joke, it immediately runs itself into the ground to a point it's tethering onto becoming annoying especially with Thomas Haden Church's character. The only character with sense is really Linda Cardellini because she is really the mom who has to deal with Ferrell and Whalberg. So when she points out the dads' bullshit, she quickly points it out. Hannibal Buress is really funny in the film, but he's there at times just because they had him and didn't know what to do with him. The only moment when the film becomes hysterical is really the final 10 minutes where it ties itself up with a great cameo and a heartfelt bow, but boy does it take a while to get there.
LAST STATEMENT: Though it is very heartfelt and mature as Ferrell roles go, the sporadically funny Daddy's Home is just as predictable and domesticated as a real stay at home dad.
Rating: 2/5 | 45%
Super Scene: Dance off fight
