Daddy's Home (2015)
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.
Director:
Sean AndersWriters:
Brian Burns (screenplay), Sean Anders(screenplay),Stars:
Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini |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.
Co-written and directed by Sean Anders, Will Ferrell plays a mild mannered executive at a Jazz radio station. His character, Brad Whitaker, is a husband material, financially stable, responsible, but a bit too by the book. He's married to Sara (Linda Cardellini) who has two kids from previous marriage to Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg). Now, Dusty is everything Brad is not, he's Brad's complete opposite, a renegade, cool, he's got that bad boy look and not to mention super-buffed as hell, let's just say that ladies get their panties wet at the first sight of Dusty. Ever since he could remember, Brad has always wanted to be a dad and it's tough being a step-dad because the kids would often pull that old fashioned "you're not my dad" card, but Brad plows through, he believes in his book methods, and he finally connects with them, seems like a happy ending, until Dusty comes back into the kids' picture. He's the cool dad by a long shot, and ya know how it is, cool beats ordinary every time, or does it? That's when this dad vs. step dad begins. It takes him a while but Brad finally learns of Dusty's sabotage, and the battle is on.
Here are some of the reasons why I think this movie works comedically, as I said earlier it's finally a movie where Will Ferrell doesn't just yell and scream loudly for long periods of time for no reason. Next to "Anchorman," DADDY'S HOME is a movie that actually showcases Will Ferrell for the funnyman he really is. Another point is that Dusty's sabotage is done in this very clever way that even in Dusty's or Brad's most ridiculous attempts, you'll find yourself rooting for both because you see the good qualities that each one has despite Brad's dorkiness and Dusty's insecurity. The comedy serves the characters, not the other way around, that's ultimately what makes DADDY'S HOME effective. And ladies, if you've been a fan of Mark Wahlberg's all your life, baby you're about to love him more, if there's ever a movie that really accentuates Marky Mark in all his glory, DADDY'S HOME is it. The man even gets to practically work out half-naked in front of you! DADDY'S HOME is slapstick physical type family comedy but it also shows how difficult it is for parents to win the affection of their kids at times. Families come in different shapes, sizes, and forms these days, but you can make it work. Equally hilarious scene-stealing supporting performances by Thomas Haden Church and Bobby Cannavale, DADDY'S HOME is funny and heartwarming.