A-List Hollywood stars Will Ferrell, John Lithgow, Mark Wahlberg, and Mel Gibson attended the UK film premiere of their new movie “Daddy’s Home 2” in Leicester Square on Thursday.
Ferrell, enjoyed attention from the fans and spent a generous amount of time talking to reporters, whereas Wahlberg barely talked to anyone. Just like their characters in the movie, Ferrell is positive and friendly, while Wahlberg more distant and reserved.
As we approach into winter, people are beginning to prepare for the holidays. Drinking hot chocolate, wearing fuzzy socks, and of course watching feel-good Christmas comedies all month long. How about adding “Daddy’s Home 2” to your movie list?
Following the 2015 hit movie “Daddy’s Home,” new friends and co-parents Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) and Brad (Will Ferrell) pair up to provide their kids with the perfect Christmas, with the company of grandpas Kurt (Mel Gibson) and Don (John Lithgow). The movie will not only make you smile and laugh, but it will sure put you in the Christmas mood—considering you aren’t already are.
Fans were lining up in the cold for eight hours, in the hopes that they would get wristbands for the event. Soon enough the stage was built, the area restricted, and security guards stopping anyone from going any closer to the red carpet—which was Christmas-themed.
Everyone is wearing white, red, and green. There were Christmas trees and fake snow. It was a truly unique and festive experience.
About an hour after the official start of the premiere, the celebrities arrived. 15 minutes later it starts to rain.
The “Elf” star is the first to arrive. Ferrell spends nearly 30 minutes on the red carpet talking with fans and taking pictures with them.
Lithgow soon joins Ferrell and they stick to each other during the interviews, proving they built a strong bond while filming “Daddy’s Home 2.”
Last to arrive are Wahlberg and Gibson.
Wahlberg walks on the red carpet so quickly that we barely catch a glimpse of him (maybe because he is only wearing a t-shirt in the cold weather, or because he just did not want to be at the premiere—we don’t know for sure). While Wahlberg gives his interview at the main stage, Gibson arrives. The screams coming from the crowd hint that he was the one everyone was truly waiting for.
Gibson does not miss the opportunity to crack a joke, charming the crowd with his smile. Without rushing too much, he goes to the main stage for his final interview and photos.
Soon after he leaves the stage, we quickly realise that it is all over.
After a whole day of preparation and four hours of waiting, we witness the celebrities’ fame for approximately 40 minutes. The carpet is taken away before the crowd has even scattered. The place appears abandoned and lonely.
Soon after everyone leaves, we are headed to the nearest tube station, where a guy greets us shouting obscenities. We will not repeat what he said, but it was definitely regarding the station on the Piccadilly Line: Cockfosters.
The transition from a fairytale-like atmosphere to a crowded smelly tube was not exactly smooth, but I guess this is as real as it gets.
(Subbing: Asena Degirmenci)
Daddy’s Home 2
★ ★ ★
OUT NOVEMBER 22 / CERT. 12A / 100 MINS.
DIRECTOR: Sean Anders
CAST: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, John Lithgow, Mel Gibson, Linda Cardellini, Owen Vaccaro, Scarlett Estevez, John Cena, Alessandra Ambrosio
Runtime: 100 minutes
PLOT Having to put aside their differences for the children so they can have the ‘together Christmas’ they’ve always wanted, co-parents Brad and Dusty are back just in time for the holidays with the addition of their fathers, resulting in the ultimate family clash.
Watching your parents go through a divorce is hard enough without having to deal with the scariness of watching one of your parents get replaced by another. “Daddy’s Home 2” relives its comedic past by proving to the audience that co-parenting between biological father and step-father can be manageable.
The progression between Brad (Will Ferrell) and Dusty’s (Mark Wahlberg) relationship from the first “Daddy’s Home” allows the audience to see that individuals can put aside their differences and live in harmony with one another. Sean Anders, who directed both “Daddy’s Home” and its sequel “Daddy’s Home 2,” continues the co-parenting banter between Brad and Dusty, in an all-American comedy that advocates the concept: the more family, the merrier.
A sequel to “Daddy’s Home,” which came out in 2015, “Daddy’s Home 2” continues the co-parenting silliness with a holiday twist. It’s Christmas time for the blended family of Brad and Dusty, which only means one thing—family reunions. Despite being rivals in the first movie, Brad and Dusty are now close friends who co-parent their children. When husband Brad, ex-husband Dusty, and mom Sarah (Linda Cardellini) find out their children are upset they will spend Christmas in two separate houses, Brad and Dusty decide to have a ‘together Christmas’—where both families spend Christmas together.
With Brad’s warm and cuddly father, Don (John Lithgow), expected to fly in to spend Christmas with the family, Dusty’s macho father, Kurt (Mel Gibson), surprises them all by calling and announcing he is also coming for the holidays. When all families are together, Kurt books a Christmas vacation for the family, and here is where both families learn to work together and put aside their differences, so that the children have the Christmas that they dreamed of.
“Daddy’s Home 2” is a wildly obtuse holiday themed comedy that is fun for a mature family audience. Although the movie is rated 12A, it may be too inappropriate for a younger audience as some of the humour involved includes foul language, sexual references, and features children drinking. Additionally, stereotypical male and female gender roles are joked around a great deal, which may stir some disagreement with some audience members.
Apart from these few aspects, what makes “Daddy’s Home 2” a joy to watch is the chemistry between all the actors. Ferrell, Wahlberg, Lithgow, and Gibson do a captivating job at portraying each of their characters. As each of their characters’ personalities are very different, each scene is more dynamic than the last. When all four actors have a genuine connection, it makes for an easy flowing movie that is a delight to watch—this is one of the reasons why “Daddy’s Home 2” is a much more humorous film than its predecessor.
The chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg in “Daddy’s Home 2” is just as good, if not better in the sequel. The audience is also given a treat with the addition of both Lithgow and Gibson, two actors who add a more lively and energetic quality to the already comedic film. With this dynamic quad, the scenes in the film will make you laugh for a brief second, pause, then laugh again. “Daddy’s Home 2” is one of those films where you know how it will end.
“Daddy’s Home 2” is an all-American family comedy that has the expected conflicting turbulent relationships followed by a happily ever after ending. Looking past the sexually suggestive jokes and stereotypical gender role banter, the energetic spirit between all the actors make this film for what it is—a simpleminded comedic film of individuals with contrasting charisma trying to enjoy the holidays.
[Featured image: Betina Gluhova and Asena Degirmenci/Westminster World]
(Subbing: Betina Gluhova)