I have not seen any of the other Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell movies. The original Daddy’s Home and The Other Guys didn’t seem like they would be funny enough to get past the over-exaggerated stupidity that had been Will Ferrell’s recent run of films. I may have to have to go back and see those films now after watching Daddy’s Home 2. In this sequel, Dusty Mayron (Wahlberg) and Brad Whitaker (Ferrell) have seemingly found a harmony in their co-dad relationship. After a sobering realization for both of them, they decide to spend “Together Christmas” with their entire extended family. This includes both dads' dads (played by Mel Gibson and John Lithgow). Dusty and Brad have to find a way to deal with “Pop Pop” and “El Padre” (take 2 guesses which is which) bringing out the lingering resentments harboring within the family and save their Christmas.
Will Ferrell was funny at one point in time (right?) and Mark Wahlberg has shown that he is as good a comedian as he is a dramatic actor (for what that’s worth to you). Together, they could become another iconic comedy duo due to their clashing personalities (again, still have to watch the other movies first). In this movie, they play extremely well off of each other, oftentimes making well-worn comedic gags seem fresh. There were some quips that slightly missed their mark, but both of them dive into their characters so much that you don’t care. Gipson and Lithgow were perfect additions to amplify the contrast between sweet and sensitive Brad and hard-nosed, “manly” Dusty. They are stereotypical, embellished versions of each of their sons, but both of the veteran actors knew exactly what to do to make their performances seem less like corny archetypes.
That doesn't stop them or this movie from being corny. And that's actually a good thing. It follows some very predictable formulas but still managed to surprise me with some of its bigger laughs. It harkens back to the ‘90s Jim Carrey and Tim Allen comedies that were stupid funny (or is it funny stupid). They made you cringe, they made you laugh out loud, they made you look back at them ready to defend all of their stupid greatness to the death. Daddy’s Home 2 utilized the talents of their actors to bring back those feelings. The beginning of the movie felt a little too fast and started to drift into the "too stupid" territory. It found its groove in the 2nd and 3rd acts when the script slows down and allows the awkwardness and insecurities of every family member to simmer. It didn’t just focus strictly on the dads, but also on the moms, kids, step-siblings, and all the conflicted feelings that come along with extended families. The scenes showcasing these complicated relationships will make you laugh and wince and want to punch characters in the face (all the feelings you have when you get together with your families). All of the actors do an amazing job creating three-dimensional, imperfect personas that you care about even though they showcase hilariously over-the-top performances.
The best performances of the movie belong to each of the child actors. But little Megan (played by Scarlett Estevez) was one of the funniest comedic performances by an adult or child this entire year. She has the best scenes, the best comedic timing, and the best laughs of the whole cast, outshining talent 30, 40 and even 60 years her senior. She deserves all the roles, all the work, and all the success that comes her way.
Daddy’s Home 2 is hilarious. It is worth the price of admission (Megan alone is worth 2 tickets). It's just a great time, especially while watching with others around you enjoying it without a care in the world. Go see this movie while I go catch up on the other Wahlberg/Ferrell films. I give this 7.5/10 perfectly masculine full-lip kisses between two men. Completely masculine.
Afterthought. Do I now have enough reviews that my scores for movies make absolutely no sense when compared to each other? Is this really better than Lucky Logan? No, buuuuuuut I don’t care lol.