Will Ferrell stars in “Daddy’s Home” as Brad Whitaker, the overly optimistic, if yet slightly annoying, family man who has everything he could ever hope for. A great home, a great family, and the love of his life in Sara (Linda Cardellini). The only downside is he can’t have children of his own and his step-kids hate him. On top of that things are about to get a lot worse when their real father, the overly macho, polar opposite of Brad, Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg) shows up on the scene to reconnect with his children and try and win Sara back. What ensues is all out war between dad and step-dad in truly comedic fashion as the pair go to great lengths to best one another.
As expected of a Will Ferrell movie things quickly descend into chaos. The two fathers try to outdo each other and vie for the affection of the children. The two couldn’t be any less alike: Brad is an SUV driver, a talker, a crier, a hugger. He’s all gooey in the middle and isn’t afraid to talk about it. Dusty, who rides a Harley, is completely different. He doesn’t care for the rules and he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind regardless of social etiquette. A real bad-ass. This combination provides the perfect backdrop for the story to unfold.
Ferrell and Wahlberg bounce off of each other in a hilarious sequence of events with tension that rises as each one tries to be man of the house. Ferrell is a master of his craft and displays the impeccable comedy genius he is known for excellently here. That paired with the dryness of Wahlberg’s character—and the ridiculousness of their behaviour—provides the audience laughter aplenty.
Scarlett Estevez and Owen Vacarro are equally as entertaining playing the children, Megan and Dylan respectively. As expected “Daddy’s Home” relies on the physical comedy, word play, and slapstick that has become synonymous with the Will Ferrell brand, but it does not disappoint. The screenplay by Brian Burns, Sean Anders, and John Morris really delivers, as do the performances of the cast.
Wahlberg and Ferrell try to one-up the other during “Daddy’s Home’s” run. Photo: Paramount Pictures, 2015.
As the story progresses things only escalate when Dusty moves a stranger, Griff (Hannibal Buress), into their home, seeking to sow dissent into Sara and Brad’s marriage and the two fathers clash over their very different parenting styles. It looks like events may reach a turning point when the pair team up to help Dylan deal with bullies; however this ‘co-dad’ moment doesn’t last long. Meanwhile Brad trashes his home with a motorcycle, nearly dies in a skateboarding accident, and confesses he moved schools and changed his identity due to bullying.
The story is fraught with these unlikely turn of events that subvert our expectations of human behaviour. In fact, they provide much of the movie’s comic value. The plot builds incredibly well. Just when it feels like the story has ran out of room to manoeuvre, it pleasantly surprises us with an explosion of events in spectacular fashion. The laughs roll in even harder, and the goodwill between Dusty and Brad soon dissipates. Sara is left in the middle. She sees through the guys’ eccentricities and nonsense but has to pick up the pieces. She is the perfect anchor, the perfect balancing role between the two male leads and excellently played by Linda Cardellini. It’s clear she’s the only real grown up in the house, and despite what Brad and Dusty may think she’s really in charge.
“Daddy’s Home” is about unconventional families, unconventional parenting, and personal growth. It explores what masculinity is and exposes how fragile it can really be; but is ultimately about doing the right thing and being a good person. It boasts a multitude of acting talent, plenty of comedy gold and a very stylish soundtrack. It’s simply a film filled with hearty laughs and heartfelt moments, and explores family in a heart-warming way.
