Will Ferrell is not in my good books lately, thanks to his horrifically racist, homophobic and misogynist “comedy” Get Hard, but some of the comedian’s more diehard fans may be willing to give him another chance this Christmas when he stars in Daddy’s Home, especially given that the pic will reteam him with Other Guys co-lead Mark Wahlberg.
In the first trailer for the comedy, it seems clear that the two are once again at odds, with Ferrell playing a good-natured step-dad to two unappreciative kids, who are overjoyed when their free-loading real father (Wahlberg) comes back into the picture. Linda Cardellini co-stars as the wife, though this definitely seems like more of a two-hander between the male stars, as their characters battle for control of the homestead.
Though there are a couple of laughs from the physical comedy in the trailer, what’s really shocking is how dull and familiar this movie looks. It certainly has none of the flashy, energetic appeal of The Other Guys, despite featuring the same two topliners, and in a crowded Christmas slot that includes a slew of awards contenders and other big studio titles, I’m not seeing how Daddy’s Home plans to steal audiences away from the other huge box office threats.
The comedy will directly square off against the fourth Alvin and the Chipmunks movie, Will Smith-led football drama Concussion, Warner Bros.’ high-octane Point Break remake, Oliver Stone-directed thriller-drama Snowden with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and reigning Best Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s period revenge Western The Revenant, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Will Poulter. It also opens a week after a little movie called Star Wars: The Force Awakens, so there’s that.
Daddy’s Home hits at Christmas.
A mild-mannered radio executive (Will Ferrell) struggles to become a good stepfather to his wife’s two children, but complications arise when their father (Mark Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.
