Hollywood heavyweights Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg joined forces to headline the 2015 buddy comedy Daddy’s Home, which follows the Saturday Night Live alum as he finds himself in a rivalry with the biological father of his two step-children, with the feuding men engaging in an all-out battle to win the approval of the kids. Directed by Sean Anders, the farce garnered a lackluster response from critics but dominated the box office, grossing $242.8 million worldwide and becoming Ferrell’s highest-grossing live-action film.
The winning chemistry between Ferrell and Wahlberg and its stellar box office earnings helped spawn a 2017 sequel, yet some fans may not realize that the premise of Daddy’s Home was actually rooted in some reality and was inspired by screenwriter Brian Burns’ personal experiences after becoming a stepfather. Let’s take a look back at the blockbuster comedy and how Burns felt seeing elements of his life play out on the silver screen.
The Comedy Hit ‘Daddy’s Home’ Is Loosely Based on a True Story
After making some hilarious movie magic in 2010’s The Other Guys, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg combined their acting superpowers once again for the 2015 buddy comedy Daddy’s Home, which tells the story of the mild-mannered and kind radio executive Brad Whitaker (Ferrell) as he tries to win over the affection of his two young stepchildren after marrying their mother Sara (Linda Cardellini). Just when it seems like Brad is finally making headway with the kids, their tough and intimidating biological father Dusty Mayron (Wahlberg) shows up on a mission to take back his family and run Brad off, leading to an uproarious battle between the two.
Screenwriter and producer Brian Burns penned the script for the comedy, drawing inspiration from his own personal experiences as a stepdad in order to plot out the hijinks and hilarity that transpire between Brad and Dusty. In fact, the immature antics of the dueling dads largely mirrored Burns’ real-life journey and the anxieties he felt about becoming a stepdad. In an interview with Fresh Fiction ahead of the film’s release, the writer opened up about the angst he felt taking on the title of a step-parent and how he channeled it into a comedy premise:
“What I didn’t account for, in addition to jumping into this relationship of being a father to these two kids, I was thrust into an instant relationship with their real dad. That was the beginning of it. He’s a nice guy but we’re such total polar opposites. At first, it threw me for a loop – I was jarred by it. And then I started to find it really, really hilarious.”
Daddy’s Home chronicles the competitive relationship that develops between Brad and Dusty as they attempt to one-up each other to win over the kids, with the scheming men using puppy dogs, treehouses, and even the Los Angeles Lakers to earn some highly coveted brownie points. Burns wanted to capture all the uncertainty and nerves that come with assuming the role of a stepfather in a tight-knit family while also infusing a winning blend of humor and heart into the screenplay. Prior to the film’s production, the writer was also thrilled to learn that comedic legend Will Ferrell would be playing the character inspired by him, much to his amazement.
Ferrell Starring in ‘Daddy’s Home’ Was a Dream Come True For Burns
When Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg were announced to be starring in Daddy’s Home, Burns was blown away that one of his favorite performers would be playing him in the comedy, with the writer telling People in 2020 that it was “a dream come true” to collaborate with the funny man and that it was a “surreal” experience seeing Ferrell embody him on screen. Burns commended the actor for perfectly capturing his mannerisms and personal style (specifically his habit of easily crying) in the flick, while also further detailing his inspiration for Brad and Dusty’s dynamic:
“We would end up in these situations where everything I would do at home with the kids – they would go to their dad’s and then he would unravel it. Then they would come back and I would have to unravel what he did. And I would think ‘Oh my God, this is such a crazy dynamic.'”
Daddy’s Home premiered on Christmas Day 2015 and went on to dominate the box office, raking in $242.8 million worldwide during its theatrical run and attracting praise for Ferrell and Wahlberg’s playful chemistry, even though many critics were underwhelmed by the comedy. Audiences awarded Daddy’s Home a B+ CinemaScore, and its massive financial success helped the movie become Ferrell’s highest-grossing live-action film of his dazzling career, surpassing his holiday staple Elf (which has earned $228.9 million). The 2017 sequel, Daddy’s Home 2, was subsequently released, though it failed to match the success of its predecessor and did not see the return of Burns as writer.
