Movie review: Daddy’s home 2 (2017) seen multiple times in theatres as well as on DVD multiple times and different streaming platforms:

This movie is a continuation of the story that began in the first Daddy’s home film which was released in 2015, (which is the subject of my next blog,) where Brad and Dusty have adjusted to be co-dads to the kids after Dusty decides to move to that city to be closer to his kids. The film takes place during the Christmas season where Brad and Dusty’s fathers announce they are coming for the holidays. While Dusty’s father is a rough and no-nonsense type of guy, Brad’s father is more of the stereotypical grandfather who is warm and has a lot of stories about when he was younger. At the beginning of the film, it appears the children seem to take a better liking to Brad’s father since he had a bigger role in their lives growing up where Dusty’s father was not as present in their lives. The film shows the family eventually deciding to take a vacation to an air bnb for the holiday week as opposed to going back and forth between Brad and Dusty’s house for the festivities. In an attempt to get closer to his grandchildren, Dusty’s father agrees to pay for the air bnb and therefore acquires the nickname given to him by his grandchildren of “El padre.” Brad’s father had already been given the nickname of “Pop pop” which made Dusty’s father envious of him. The film shows that Dusty and his father, (despite their shared love for the children,) have a really bad relationship when compared to the relationship between Brad and his father who seem to get along….until Brad finds out a secret that his father has been keeping from him for years which throws the otherwise fun trip into chaos. As the film goes on, the question is constantly asked, “Can Brad ever forgive his father or is the secret enough for the once loving son to betray his father and therefore categorize him in the same manner as Dusty and his father?

I’ve always been a fan of Will Ferrell, (who played Brad in this film.) I’ve seen him in multiple movies where his clumsiness has been a source of comedy for me. Mark Wahlberg, (who played Dusty in the film,) has been a favourite of mine in this film as he is shown to succeed more at doing things for the kids than Brad is able to do, (either by being able to afford more or just not taking no for an answer, especially where the children are concerned.) His rough and manly stature when compared to Brad’s has been a source of comedy throughout this film, (an example of this to come in the next review of the first Daddy’s home film.)

Brad’s father was played by John Lithgow who previously voiced the character of Lord Farquaad in the movie Shrek (2001.) 

This movie marked the first time I have seen the actor in person as he only voiced the character in Shrek since it was animated.

Dusty’s father was played by Mel Gibson whose character in this film always ended up with a woman, (which was part of the reason why Dusty didn’t get along with him in the film,) as it’s shown that his knack for being able to score with women negatively impacted their relationship as he therefore wasn’t as present in Dusty’s life at times when Dusty needed him as a child.

One notable quote from the movie is “There’s my big man!” This was said by Brad’s father as he was coming down the escalator upon arriving at the airport. To the shock and disgust of me, (I can’t speak for anyone else,) they share a kiss on the lips upon greeting each other right in front of Dusty and his father.

The movie to me serves as a reminder of the fact that it’s not as easy being a step father as it is a real father. In this film, the roles are reversed from the first movie where Dusty needs to contend with the same problem Brad did in the first film and finds himself having to compete for the affection and acceptance of his new step daughter who constantly tends to put him down and undermine his authority to her by going ahead and doing things that Dusty tells her not to do while her mother and real father (played by John Cena,) allow her to do pretty much what she wants at free will. At times during this movie, she told him, “You’re not my dad,” at times when he would try and initiate things a father would do for his daughter. It was made clear, (at least to me,) that she had no interest in bonding with him.

Though I have been a fan of WWE for most of my life, John Cena is my least favourite character in this movie as he is shown to be very rude and arrogant throughout the movie. Like his daughter Adrianna, he sees himself as more of a man than Dusty and Brad and shows that he would do anything to protect and defend his daughter even if she does something wrong.

This movie is a definite pass for me, especially if you are a fan of comedy.