A Fairly Dynamic Duo... "Daddy's Home"

Daddy's Home (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Linda Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church,

Directed by Sean Anders

The Story:

Brad (Ferrell) really loves his wife (Cardellini) and her kids. He's trying to be the best step-dad in the world to them, and as time has passed, their intense burning hatred of him is slowly becoming casual indifference. Then Dusty (Wahlberg) breezes back into town, and Brad quickly falls from grace and slowly loses his mind as he attempts to win back the family that he's always wanted.

Much like the last time these two teamed up (The Other Guys) there are laughs to be had, but overall, it was just an okay movie.

Naturally everything goes wrong for Brad, and while comical at first, it just keeps compounding and you're like, "okay, I get it".

Not everything in life, or movies, needs to be turned up to 11.

Eventually the tables will turn and the charmed life that Dusty is enjoying will fail, but it takes quite a bit for him to realize that there is more to being a dad than just "being cool".

The energy and interplay between the two is there, and I hope that should they decide to buddy up again, they will finally get that script that puts it over the top as a truly enjoyable film that lives up to the high expectations the audience has going into the film.
 
The best bits usually involve Thomas Haden Church. That guy kills i as Brad's boss. :)

So yes, there are some laughs, but for me, not everything clicked perfectly this go round.

And really, when the kids are the ones using the most profanity in the film, it's time to get another opinion on the script.

I've seen kids that don't care for an authority figure (see Uncle Buck) and they don't need to swear up a storm to get the point across.

Final Grade: C+

We've All Had Some "Horrible Bosses 2"

Horrible Bosses 2 (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Charlie Day, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine, Christoph Waltz

Directed by Sean Anders

The Story:

Nick (Bateman), Kurt (Sudeikis) and Dale (Day) return, but this time they have invented a product and they are going to be their own bosses! They pitch it to billionaire Bert Hanson (Waltz) and he loves the idea and orders a boatload of them. The boys get down to business creating the product, all on their own dime, but when they take the product to Mr. Hanson, he declines, having already created a similar product. The guys plot their revenge, and that involves taking Hanson's son (Pine) hostage and ransoming him so they can save their company. Of course where these guys are concerned, nothing ever goes according to plan.

Having been pleasantly surprised at how funny the original Horrible Bosses turned out to be, I was eagerly anticipating the sequel, and hoped it wouldn't be a disappointment.

Long story short, if you liked the first one, there is little doubt that you will enjoy this follow up.

It's rude. It's crude.

But hey, that's where half the charm lies.

Sudeikis is manic, and his delivery is just killer. Listening to him deliver his lines simply kills throughout the film.

Day was a revelation for me from the first film, as I don't believe I had seen him in anything prior to that. As the exasperated one of the trio, he and Sudeikis provide a whirlwind of emotions and delivery that allow Bateman to be "the sane one" in a series of insane moments.

This works, and doesn't make Bateman have to do all the heavy lifting like he does in some other movies.

It provides a nice balance between the 3 stars.

Aniston and Spacey return in brief, but memorable parts that help drive the narrative.

I could think of worse things to endure than the prospect of a third go-round with this group.

Final Grade: B