Daddy’s Home 2 sees Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell reprise their roles as co-dads Dusty and Brad. However, unlike the first film, they are seemingly working harmoniously alongside each in raising their children, that is until the pairs intrusive fathers Kurt (played by Mel Gibson) and Don (played by John Lithgow) join them on a festive holiday, in which old feuds re-emerge.
This film, rather than try and produce a better plot than the first film instead opts to cluster in more star power to the cast and repeat a very similar storyline. Mark Walhberg’s hard man character in the first film was very endearing and had much charm, accompanied by moments of genuinely funny comedy. Yet Kurt (Mel Gibson’s even harder character) really doesn’t have any form of charm and he spends the majority of the film saying throwaway jokes and then proceeds to, infuriatingly, laugh at them like a stereotypical old man. Meanwhile, Don (Lithgow), the other new dad introduced in this film, didn’t feel like an annoyance at all but instead was a very believable father of Ferrell’s Brad. The contrasting parenting styles over affectionate and very tough on their children created great moments of comedy and also delivered some warming messages about family. Despite the great dynamics and charisma between all the characters, the execution of the plot is where this film sadly falls flat. I can recall multiple points where things felt like they were dragging, which hindered it from surpassing its predecessor (Daddy’s Home).
Related: Daddy’s Home 2 [Theatrical Review]
Furthermore, the comedy of the film was very funny at moments, with emphasis on the word ‘moments’. A lot of the comedy was either ‘edgy’ humour that never really worked due to how forced it felt or rehashed jokes from the first film; something falls on a car and crushes it, Will Ferrell electrocuting himself etc. ‘Moments’ defines this film whether it be moments of charm or comedy, but unfortunately there aren’t enough of these to label it anything more than mediocre. Overall I was left satisfied but also wishing the film was twenty minutes shorter.
Daddy’s Home 2 is out now on UK DVD and Blu-ray.
