Daddy's Home

Rating : 3/10
Release Date : 8th January, 2016
Time : 96 minutes
Director: Sean Anders; Writers: Brian Burns, Sean Anders, John Morris; Music : Michael Andrews
Starring : Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Scarlett Estevez, Owen Vaccaro, Bobby Cannavale, Hannibal Buress



Imagine Anees Bazmee (of Welcome, Singh is Kinng fame) got together with Rohit Shetty (of Golmaal, Chennai Express and I can blow up cars better than anyone fame), both master craftsmen of the ‘senseless entertainment’ genre, and decided to make a film on parenting, a dad vs a stepdad plot. What they would come up with would probably be better than what is served up here.

Nothing makes sense. Will Ferrell, all around good guy, is trying to win over his step kids, Scarlett and Owen, while mom, Linda is quite supportive. However, when alpha male, biker, secret agent type Mark Wahlberg, the biological dad, lands up they enter into a kind of ‘competition’ on who can be a better father – with cringe-worthy results. The entire sub-plot involving Hannibal Buress beggars belief as does some of the things the two dads do.

Suffice to say that there are very few redeeming features in this one – some of the conversations with Thomas Haden are funny but some are overdone. The whole thing about going to a fertility clinic (Bobby Cannavale) also seems to suggest you cant be a real man, truly satisfied until you can procreate. The movie lasts too long with the impulse to leave in the middle has to be fought several times during it’s 96 minutes running time.