Skip to main content

Daddy's Home 2 (2017), PG-13, ★1/2


The first Daddy's Home was surprisingly a financial success as I thought it was not as bad as many people thought. I thought it was a solid cable watch because it had enough laughs for that sort of mixed recommendation. I was not craving for a sequel for this movie because again, comedy sequels have a very bad record, however, the only difference is that it is not too late since the first movie came out a few years ago. But, this sequel is a reminder as to why we do not need a sequel to a hit comedy because this is a pretty much forgettable comedy, especially a holiday comedy...which I hade a guilty pleasure for. This did not work for me.

Brad and Dusty (Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg) have become friends after the events of the first film and they set up a co-dad system where their two children, Megan and Dylan, spending time at each father's home. Dusty has re-married to writer Karen (Victoria's Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio) and he is step-dad to Adrianna, Karen's daughter. After Megan's embarrassing comment about spending time in each of his two dads' houses, Brad and Dusty decide that they should spend one Christmas altogether as one big happy family instead of two separate families.

Meanwhile, both Brad and Dusty get news from both of their fathers that they are both coming into town for the holidays. Dusty warns Brad that his dad will make fun of them because of their co-dad arrangement. Grandpa Kurt (Mel Gibson), Dusty's dad, arrives and mistakes Brad as a chauffeur as Dusty corrects that Brad is the stepdad to his children. Brad's dad, Grandpa Don (John Lithgow), arrives as he is more loving and they both have a unusual father/son relationship which unnerves Kurt more.

Kurt rents a cabin for the holidays to harbor everybody and after having trouble with loading up the suitcases by Dusty throwing Brad's hilariously, they are comfortable over there. Throughout the week, Brad's and Dusty's co-dad parenting skills are put to the test by Kurt by setting some examples by bonding with their stepchildren. Meanwhile, Sara (Linda Cardellini) also tries to bond with Karen as she notices Karen shoplifting clothes.


Almost everything I predicted in this movie comes true as you know that this is about Brad and Dusty struggling to find some connection with each other but also with their dads. It is essentially A Bad Moms Christmas except with fathers and I believe this is less funny than the sequel to Bad Moms but they are both horrible. There are some chuckles than laughs as there is some funny stuff surrounding John Lithgow's character as Will Ferrell's dad. I do like the execution of the climax but it never goes anywhere. Actually, the movie's biggest problem is that when they open with a joke, it never closes with confidence even if it works or does not work. Most of the jokes are left hanging.

Director Sean Anders, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg made a comedy sequel that could appeal to some moviegoers but not myself. Actually, I am a fan of the Ferrell-Wahlberg duo but this one is the first misfire from the combo as I felt that the plot was the same movie just on Christmas and with more dads. Mel Gibson's character tries to be charming but lacks appeal because he is mean throughout the movie. John Lithgow steals a few scenes. And, unfortunately, Linda Cardellini is left on the sidelines with not much to do. To be honest, I'd rather see that fictitious movie that they were watching during the movie than this sequel. That movie is more hilarious than most of this sequel.

*1/2


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), PG-13, ★★1/2

We're about halfway through the Harry Potter franchise and this is the turning point in which I found the material to be darker and more mature when the storyline surrounding Lord Voldemort grows. And, also we see another new and fresh direction as David Yates comes into the spotlight to finish off the franchise with the last four movies. I remember watching the trailer in the theaters and I was excited for this movie as it was mostly action-packed. The bottom line is despite the camaraderie between the young Hogwarts characters and a real-good action sequence in the climax, it is a choppily edited and more grounded movie that does not provoke much magic or memorable scenery. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is enduring a hot summer and Dudley (Harry Melling) provokes him by making fun of the fact that Harry is haunted by Cedric's death from The Goblet of Fire and also his mom's death. As a storm approaches, demeanors come into the tunnel sucking Dudley's so...

Non-Stop (2014), PG-13, 3 stars

The passengers think Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is a terrorist. Airports and airplanes. The lines. The crowds. The delays. Everything that Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) hates about flying. When it comes to airports, I have to go through the procedure with taking your carry-on baggage and luggage on the flight. Then, I go through security which I have to admit is not as bad, just follow the rules and guidelines. After security, what do you do? If you are two or three hours early, you have time to kill: Have something to eat, watch something on your IPad, shop, etc. As you board and get on the plane, anything can happen from turbulence to maybe something unexpected like this movie's situation. This movie is silly and preposterous, but it is a fun movie to watch. The movie opens with Bill Marks tired drinking alcohol and arguing with a supervisor on his cellphone glancing at a photo of his daughter. But, he is trying to get his act together by lighting a cigarette while he is being pus...

The Best Films of the Year (1999, 2003-2025)

I've posted my lists of the best films over the years, 1999, 2003-2025. You can take a look and glance at them. (Revised on 01/5/2026). 1999 1. The Insider  (Mann) 2. Magnolia  (Anderson) 3. The Matrix  (Wachowskis) 4. Being John Malkovich  (Jonze) 5. Fight Club  (Fincher) 6. The Straight Story  (Lynch) 7. The Talented Mr. Ripley  (Minghella) 8. Eyes Wide Shut  (Kubrick)  9. The Iron Giant  (Bird) 10. American Beauty  (Mendes) 11. The Sixth Sense  (Shyamalan) 12. Topsy-Turvy  (Leigh) 13. Toy Story 2  (Lasseter) 14. All About My Mother  (Almodovar) 15. Galaxy Quest  (Parisot) 2003 1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King  (Jackson) 2. Lost In Translation   (Coppola) 3. Finding Nemo   (Stanton) 4. Memories of Murder   (Joon-ho) 5. Oldboy   (Chan-Wook) 6. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl   (Verbinski) 7. Mystic River   (Eastwood) 8...