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Saturday, April 19, 2025
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HOLLYWOOD DADDY S HOME
EDITOR'S PICK
'Daddy's
Home': A flighty comedy (IANS Review)
Rating:
**1/2
"Daddy's Home", directed by Sean Anders, is a flighty comedy that
adheres to the now well-established conventions of the Will Ferrell school of
comedy. It is a loosely structured farce that satirises modern concepts of
fatherhood and masculinity.
The narration begins with a soft-hearted, radio station manager, Brad (Ferrell)
explaining the difference between a father and a dad. He further elaborates as
to why he delightfully prefers to take on the role of the step-dad to Dylan
(Owen Wilder Vaccaro) and Megan (Scarlett Estevez), the two young children of
his strikingly beautiful wife, Sarah (Linda Caredellini).
Brad realises the importance of the father spending time with his children and
succumbs to the children's biological father, Dusty's (Mark Wahlberg) insincere
flattery, when he lands up at their home.
The passive-aggressive battle for the children's affection forms the crux of
this film.
Packed with streaks of nasty as well as raunchy humour, the narrative builds up
momentum, when Dusty attempts to undermine and embarrass Brad at every turn.
Brad's behaviour grows increasingly unruly and erratic as he's overcome with
neuroses. Unfortunately, the laughs never materialise, but they don't fall flat
either.
The comic set pieces range from the CGI-enhanced slapstick; where Brad loses
control of Dusty's high geared motorcycle and drives into the house; Brad loses
control of the roller skateboard and flies into a power line, to the neutered
versions of the typical bawdy outburst found in Anders's previous work,
culminating in Brad's drunken buffoonery during halftime at a NBA playoff game.
The script written by a team of five Ethan Cohen, Adam Mckay, Chris Henchy,
Brian Burns and Sean Anders lacks the depth for a wholesome entertainer. The
plot is a series of improvised skits and comedy sequences that are strung
together just close enough to create a three-act storyline.
Also, the characters are lazily etched. The film belongs to Will Ferrell and
Mark Wahlberg. Together they make the odd pair. Their rivalry forms a major
chunk of the narration and unfortunately they are less effective as the comic
duo.
Wahlberg's character is more based on conceit than performance; with his rugged
physique he is expected to get laughs from the idea of his intimidating
impressive underdog act more than his line deliveries.
On the performance front, both offer nothing exceptional.
The others in stock roles are; Hannibal Buress as the handyman who takes up
residence in the family's household alongside Wahlberg, Thomas Haden Church as
Ferrell's boss at the radio station, Bobby Cannavale as the infertility-doctor
and Linda Cardellini as the vaguely passive wife, who distrusts her ex, but
essentially goes with the flow depending on which man dominates her attention in
the moment.
Wrestler-rapper-actor John Cena shows up in a clever cameo right before the end.
By no stretch of imagination is "Daddy's Home" a children's film, for
adults may enjoy it more.
