11/10/17

Daddy's Home 2

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Sometimes you're just in the mood for a stupid movie. Trust me, this one is stupid and it suited my mood perfectly.

Brad and Dusty have ironed out all their earlier problems and their co-parenting is going smoothly. When they detect some reluctance for the children to bounce between homes at Christmastime, they agree to have a combined holiday...until their fathers invite themselves to join them.

Writer/director Sean Anders ("Daddy's Home"), working on the script with Brian Burns and John Morris ("Daddy's Home"), brings us a PG-13 (mild profanity in a PG-13 movie they are watching) collection of stupid stunts, over-the-top acting, silly situations and a guaranteed smile with the corny ending.

Some of Anders' cast:
  • Will Ferrell ("Daddy's Home") Brad is so, so, sweet. He's touchy feely and woo woo all the way, easily moved to tears and eager to make everyone happy and keep the peace.
  • Mark Wahlberg ("Daddy's Home") Dusty is a go-ahead, get-ahead kind of guy, determined to compromise each issue.
  • Alessandra Ambrosio ("Daddy's Home") Dusty's wife Karen takes a lot of notes for all those books she writes. She is still glamorous, serene, and a bit removed from it all.
  • Linda Cardellini ("Daddy's Home") Sara is patient, creative, a proud parent and Brad's loving wife.
  • John Lithgow ("The Crown" he's Winston Churchill!) Brad's father Don, shows us the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Their affection is waaay too over-the-top for most of us.
  • Mel Gibson ("The Expendables 3") Dusty's father Kurt is retired, wealthy, macho, sexist and a horndog of the first water! Every young woman is fair game. Gibson is clearly having a ball sending up his character's reputation.
I'm skipping all the children because it gets too confusing...just like in real life with half-siblings, step-siblings and the byzantine relationships in today's culture.

Special mention MUST be made of the brilliant cameos. You will be surprised, shocked, and delighted with these unexpected delights. Can't tell though, you know... spoilers... smile...
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Take a look:
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