Like father like son in ‘Daddy’s Home 2’

MEL GIBSON plays Kurt, the alpha male father of Mark Wahlberg’s character, in Paramount Pictures’ comedy sequel, “Daddy’s Home 2”—and it is definitely something to see.

In 2015’s Daddy’s Home, audiences saw sensitive stepdad Brad ( Will Ferrell) go to war with bad ass biological dad Dusty ( Wahlberg) for the affections of Dylan, Megan and their mother Sara (Linda Cardellini). Since then, Brad and Dusty have put aside their differences and settled into a working relationship as “co- dads,” but their lives are thrown into chaos with the holiday arrival of their own fathers: over nurturing Don ( John Lithgow) and tough-as-nails Kurt (Gibson). and I really didn’t know what to expect. I felt a little like a dad being intimidated by a step- dad and just wondering what dynamic he’d bring, but as soon as he got here, he couldn’t have been a more funny, warm, affable guy.”

On the other end of the parenting spectrum, John Lithgow plays Don, the friendly, affectionate, polar opposite of Kurt’s aloof, lone wolf.

“Don has a big heart, and is the kind of guy who will deliberately change planes on a trip so he’ll meet as many new people as possible,” says Lithgow of

Mel Gibson (right) plays the alpha male father of Mark Wahlberg's character in the comedy movie

Gibson describes his character animatedly as "an astronaut, a hard living, womanizing kind of dude still up to his old tricks even though he’s not a youngster anymore."

Director Sean Anders admits to being flustered having Gibson on set,“Mel’s an extremely talented director and actor, his character.

“Even though we play complete opposites, all four of us get along great, playing off of each other and knowing exactly who our characters are and how they relate to the others,” says Lithgow.

“It wasn’t until we got everyone in the room standing next to each other that we realized the magic of seeing Mark with Mel and Will with John,” Anders recalls. “Apart from being great actors and each of them bringing so much to the table, they really look like their dads.”

Opening today in cinemas nationwide, Daddy’s Home 2 is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.