REVIEW: Daddy’s Home 2 4K UHD Blu-Ray

Run Time: 124 Mins (total)
Rated: PG-13
What To Expect: Decent Gibson entry, futuristic video fidelity

MAIN FEATURE

With this film you cannot go by the usual review aggregation verdicts.  There is a disproportionate bias that we kept an eye on (it was mostly hatred of Mel Gibson), and while it’s not exactly Gibson or Mark Wahlberg’s best entry, it’s easily worth a watch.

Even before Gibson shows up, it’s already fun.  Brad Whitaker (Will Ferrell) and Dusty Mayron (Mark Wahlberg) are now best pals, with the latter now acquiescing to Whitaker’s softly and ‘progressive’ family leadership methods.  It’s kind of like the time Homer Simpson became Ned Flanders’ best friend.  When they plan the best inter-family Christmas ever, Whitaker’s father, Don (John Lithgow) is invited, but so is Whitaker’s father, the ex-astronaut and womanizer, Kurt (Mel Gibson).

The cast is clearly having a ball and the on screen chemistry between all elevates the otherwise mediocre screenplay.  Good delivery and, I’m sure, a fair bit of ad-lib lead to good results.  And even though it’s PG-13, it surely pushes the boundaries because it often feels risqué.  The only real way the film lets itself down is the final 20 minutes or so, where it tries to jam in too many moral platitudes.  And it teases a John Cena vs. Mark Wahlberg fight, but doesn’t deliver.

It looks like there’s going to be a third movie.  I look forward to it.  I would also make a suggestion — cast Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Cena’s father.

DISC RELEASE

More and more I look at 4K/UHD and think to myself this is just as good as the better 3D efforts, but without the cumbersome weight of 3D glasses.  On 4K UHD, Daddy’s Home 2 offers a depth and clarity that is more than easy on the eyes.  Even though we’re upscaled to 4K here, the film’s 2160p/Dolby Vision also bursts the film to life with vivid yet natural colors — this is a Christmas film, so there are a lot of contrasting primary colors and plenty of snow to be found, so it’s a real exercise for the format.  It’s not as good as I’ve seen, but since the 1080p disc is here as well, the user can compare both and rest easy knowing that the old format has been bested for this particular release.

Also, although I am yet to test these films on an Atmos setup, that option is available here for those who are ready to use it.

Elsewhere, there is around half an hour of extras.  These are fairly short 5-10 minute features, including a gag reel (which further highlights the cast chemistry and along with the financial success of the film, hints at another sequel) and around 11 minutes of deleted scenes.  All are in 1080p, so don’t expect Daddy’s Home 2 to lead the way in getting things moving with full 4K coverage across all material.

In the end, the big selling point here is the main feature and its 4K quality, another nail in the coffin of the tired old 1080p Blu-Ray, Daddy’s Home 2 does not disappoint.

Daddy’s Home 2 is available on 4K/UHD Blu-Ray in the UK on March 19th