Daddy’s Home is a comedy film directed by Sean Anders. Brad Whitaker (Ferrell) is a mild-mannered radio director. Brad struggles to be accepted as a step-father to his wife, Sarah’s (Cardellini) two children. Just as Brad has finally begun to gain acceptance from Dylan and Megan, things go awry when their biological father (Wahlberg) enters the picture. Now the two fathers are in a competition to out-dad each other for the children’s affection.
By now Ferrell and Wahlberg have crafted their comedy movie personas enough that you should know what to expect. This isn’t a high-brow comedy, but it still has laughs if you enjoy their style of comedy. It’s a bit light in the story department, but it’s just delivering what was promised in the trailers and posters. The film is straightforward and has a relatable premise for some people. This being the second collaboration for Ferrell and Wahlberg, it’s not surprising that the chemistry is strong again. Cardellini is a bit bland, but it’s due to her role being underwritten. They work well bouncing back and forth competing to win the children’s affection to create some funny scenes.
The comedy in Daddy’s Home is what to expect in a Will Ferrell flick, but it’s generally pretty tame in terms of crude humor. It doesn’t push the envelope as much as other Ferrell movies, but that just makes it easier to watch for a wider audience. If you are looking for a smart comedy, this film likely isn’t for you. If you’re just looking to get a fix of Will Ferrell, then you won’t be disappointed. I found the movie to be entertaining and look forward to watching the sequel.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 36 min
Director: Sean Anders
Screenplay: Brian Burns, Sean Anders and John Morris
Cast: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg and Linda Cardellini
Producers: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Chris Henchy and John Morris
Music: Michael Andrews
Cinematography: Julio Macat