Daddy's Home review: for a slapstick comedy, I only laughed thrice

If there's one thing that could stand true for this film, it would be the Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell had fun making it.

But does that make it any good? Nope, this is one of them films where you're just checking your watch. Repeatedly.

Directed and co-written by Sean Anders, the guy who got us We're the Millers and Horrible Bosses 2, Daddy's Home has everything you would expect from this type of comedy, unrealistic scenarios, inexplicable outcomes, bah blah.

Unfortunately for a comedy, it wasn't very funny. The jokes kept falling flat. Or making you cringe (it is a Ferrell movie after all).

I counted - I laughed just 3 times during the whole film.

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Plot: Ferrell plays Brad, a quiet, stable guy, 8 months into his marriage to Sarah (Linda Cardellini). He always wanted to be a dad, and looks forward to nothing more than the relationship he is developing with her two kids.

But then that bond is threatened by a surprise visit from Dusty (Wahlberg), Sarah's ex-husband and the kids' father.

And the dad-fight is on.

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To set up the obvious opposites, Dusty is everything Brad is not. Brad works at a smooth-jazz radio station. He's a sappy guy who cries each time the kids say something nice and sweet. Dusty is muscular, freewheeling and hints that he's a mercenary - he does lots of shirtless push-ups. Without breaking a sweat even once.

The tough guy-nice guy dichotomy is a set-up for some stereotypical masculine showdowns

The tough guy-nice guy dichotomy is a set-up for some stereotypical masculine showdowns: handling bullies, comparing physical attributes and building stuff. And an embarassing dance-off.

I'm not sure if there's even a point in talking about cinematography. Oh, there was a GoPro skateboarding scene that's the film's one clever visual touch. That's it.

With so many great movies coming out this year, you readers would be better served spending their money on something else (Hateful 8 next week!).

Just wait for it come on to Netflix or something.

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