This movie raises the question: What is a dad? Certainly, it’s not such a simple question. Because it’s not just about who raises or who fathers a child, that ambiguity laid the foundation for creating a comedic story with a message that can or should be taken seriously.
Directed by Sean Anders and released in theaters in 2015, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg joined forces to make another comedy film, but this one also has dramatic elements. They shared the screen for the first time in "The Other Guys" (2010), formed a comedic duo, and became friends.
"Daddy's Home" aims to use that same dynamic of contrasts and push it to the extreme, transforming the cop genre into the everyday life of a modern family. I must say the movie is the typical "I learned my lesson" story, which makes it predictable but undeniably entertaining.
The plot introduces us to Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell), a kind radio executive, an emotional and somewhat clumsy man whose greatest dream in life is to be the best stepfather to his wife Sara (Linda Cardellini) two children. Through effort, he begins to earn the elusive affection of the kids; however, just when everything was going wonderfully, Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg), the ex-husband and biological father of the children, suddenly appears.
Dusty is the embodiment of the alpha male stereotype: muscular, rebellious, charismatic, and a master of passive-aggressive manipulation. With his arrival, the movie revolves around a ridiculous male competition to win the throne of the household.
In short, the movie deals with the rivalry between the stepfather and the biological father, competing to win the family's affection. Amid many funny situations, there is a theme that does not go unnoticed and is the heart of the film: the children's relationship with their parents.
They unconditionally prefer their biological father, but Dusty is superficially affectionate as an absent father: He gives gifts to his children to somehow "compensate" for his love. The audience is never given enough details to understand why his marriage to Sara failed, but it can be concluded that Dusty was never willing to be a family man, choosing work over fulfilling his role as a father. And it is not until Brad arrives that he feels threatened by being replaced in the family.
But before continuing, let’s focus on Brad Whitaker. He is the complete opposite of Dusty both in character and personality, he is the stereotype of a good man who couldn’t hurt a fly. (One could say Will Ferrell has been typecast in this role; it’s impossible to see him on screen as anything other than a very proper man.)
I would say the humorous tone of the movie makes you easily lose sight of the plot’s important aspects. But it is consistent with its message that fatherhood cannot be a competition, mainly because it is a responsibility.
Sean Anders’ greatest success as a director is letting his two stars do what they do best. Ferrell is an expert at playing the well-intentioned man who suffers hilarious accidents.
Meanwhile, Wahlberg was born to play a tough guy (he has been seen in that role in almost all his movies), projecting overwhelming confidence in his character. The supporting cast also slightly raises the quality of the film; Thomas Haden Church shines as Brad’s eccentric boss, and Hannibal Buress, although not very outstanding (he just repeats the same joke in various scenes).
"Daddy's Home" does not try to be more than it intends to be. Its script has moments where the jokes feel forced and a bit stretched. Sean Anders chose to play it safe, keeping the overall tone quite commercial.
The movie delivers exactly what it promises from its trailer. It is a work held almost entirely by the charisma and dynamics of its leads. It is suitable for a family audience, and I would recommend it for a good time with family or friends.
Rating: 70/100
