Daddy's Home 4K UltraHD

"Daddy's Home" is the story of Brad (Ferrell), who always dreamed of having the perfect family. Brad is determined to become the best step-dad to his new wife's (Cardellini) children. But when their biological father Dusty (Wahlberg) shows up unexpectedly, Brad's idyllic family life is turned upside down, and he must go toe-to-toe with Dusty. (Gary Reber)

Special features include a making-of featurette (HD 11:54) plus six more featurettes: "Daddy-Off" (HD 06:44), "Daddy Daughter Dance" (HD 05:11), "Halftime Stunt" (HD 08:55), "Tony Hawk: Skater Double" (HD 04:02), "Child's Play" (HD 05:00), and "Hannibal Buress: The Perfect Houseguest" (HD 05:36); "Blooper-Jeet Kune Do" (HD 02:05); five deleted and extended scenes (HD 07:38); and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1.78:1 2160p HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD HDR10/Dolby Vision picture, reviewed on a Sony Bravia Z9D 4K Ultra HD HDR display, was photographed digitally using the Arri Alexa XT camera system and sourced from a 2K (not 4K )master Digital Intermediate format. As the 2K Digital Intermediate has been upconverted to 2160p, there is no real gain in native resolution. The previous Blu-ray Disc features a 1.78:1 1080p AVC picture that was good. But this new Ultra HD edition exhibits a substantial improvement in picture quality. The imagery exhibits an amazing vibrant color palette with warm and rich hues and natural fleshtones. Colors often pop yet retain a natural balance. The wider color gamut reveals deep, saturated hues and shades. HDR contrast is well balanced with deep blacks, excellent shadow delineation, and bright highlights such as intense whites. Resolution exhibits a range of fine detail revealed in facial features, skin pores, hair, beards, clothing, and object textures in interiors and exteriors. Visually throughout, the colors are strong, and clarity and sharpness is superb. (Gary Reber)

The DTS:X/DTS-HD Master Audio™ 7.1-channel soundtrack, in addition to the added two ear-level surround channels, are height channels, which provide immersive overhead dimensionality in appropriate segments, such as the announcements heard during an NBA playoff game and during a daddy-daughter dance in which the music is nicely dimensional and aggressively enveloping. Atmospherics are supportive, and sound effects punctuate the action mishap sequences. The NBA scene fully excites all the channels, for an effective spherical surround effect. The music score is lively and extends across the soundstage and extends to the surrounds and a brief segment in the height channels. Dialogue is naturally voiced with generally good spatial integration. Dialogue is really the focus, along with humorous segments of mayhem and shenanigans.

The Immersive Sound element is weak and virtually non-existent. Not even the orchestral score is extended except for one brief segment. A few sound effects are heard here and there, such as a black Indian motorcycle crashing off the roof onto Brad's Ford Flex at Brad's house, Brad crashing on a skateboard into electrical lines, brief announcer and crowd noise at a basketball game, and a pop song at a fathers-daughters dance (the only instance of music in the height channels). Much has been ignored by the sound designers, resulting in a poor Immersive Sound experience.

Overall, a fun soundtrack. (Gary Reber)