Daddy's Home

They got on like a house on fire in The Other Guys, but Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg only kindle a few lukewarm laughs in this comedy from co-writer/director Sean Anders (Horrible Bosses 2). Ferrell is Brad, the gawky suburban stepdad who does little except look on in envy when his children's biological father, Wahlberg, rolls back into town on his motorcycle. This should be the cue for the gloves coming off in the contest to win the children over, except that Brad is a walkover, lapping up humiliating moments while Wahlberg lords it over him with a see-through Mr Nice Guy act. Ferrell's funniest characters have a little bit of guile and a lot of pomp to balance out the idiocy (Ron Burgundy being the prime example) but there's no fun in laughing at a character this pathetic, plus Brad's lack of drive means the film drags. Wahlberg is pure smarm in contrast, but he's never more irritating than in the saccharine finale. In all Daddy's Home is a hollow construction.