Master of wit. Member of the original Frat Pack.  Will Ferrell for many of us is a household name we’ve grown-up with, whether it be his phenomenal run on NBC staple Saturday Night Live, timeless classics like Elf or what’s to come next – that eagerly-awaited sequel to Zoolander which already has ‘broken the internet’ with a record-setting 52.5 million views in its first week.

Although this wasn’t Ferrell‘s first visit to the City, with the Toronto International Film Festival, Semi-Pro and The Campaign bringing him to Toronto in recent years, Fans and Media equally were excited to see him again as the red carpet was rolled-out at Scotiabank Theatre for a special Advance Screening of DADDY’S HOME.

Despite being a bit behind schedule worsened by inclement weather, Ferrell was generous with his face time and after doing a round of interviews, he quickly went in-theatre to introduce his new Comedy, before picking-up where he left-off with Media. Believe me, we’ve been on the Red Carpet circuit for years now and we’re lucky sometimes even to get a question in.  Ferrell was a class act, giving thoughtful answers which go a level deeper than the Funnyman we think we know.

My Samsung S6 rang off the hook around 7:10 PM while Ferrell was on-stage before a packed theatre of Fans, many who hadn’t a clue he’d be coming.  Already a bit nervous, my jaws dropped in disbelief that he singled me out, asking “Where’s Will Wong?”.  Perhaps it’s because we share a name, perhaps our name had a fun ring to it, or maybe he googled us after learning that we’d be speaking on the Carpet?  Whatever it was, we didn’t want to wake-up from it.

Special thanks to @DaveMABalwdin for sending this in:

What is life again?

Daddy’s Home centers on a man named Brad (Ferrell), a smooth jazz radio executive whose world is turned upside-down after the birth father of his stepchildren, Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) re-enters the picture after a period of estrangement.  Dead-set on reclaiming back his wife Sarah (Linda Cardellini) and kids, Dusty pulls-out all the stops, awakening Brad‘s competitive spirit and deepest insecurities in a full-on Battle of the Dads.  Can there be only one Dad?

Decked-out in a perfectly-cut suit, the eloquent and gracious Ferrell made his way to us, the last outlet on the Carpet, still in great spirits. We expressed our gratitude for his shout-out earlier – an endorsement of the highest kind.

I point-out that often in Film, we see the stepparent not always in the most favourable light.  What is refreshing about Daddy’s Home is that it gives us a completely new perspective.  As Producer and Star of the Film, we ask about the importance of this story being told.

Ferrell says, “I think Daddy’s Home is more about the blended family, which is becoming more commonplace. It’s so unique. We don’t think we’ve seen this done before in a Family-Comedy.”.   He adds, “Original Writer Brian Burns gives us a  heightened version of his life and that’s how he pitched it to us. He’s a stepdad of two and he does everything by-the-book and is always there for them. Meanwhile the ‘real dad’ comes on weekends, takes them to Disneyland and buys them candy and Brian‘s left to pick-up the pieces on Monday and we kept laughing at this.”.  “It’s the steady force having to deal with the tornado and there’s  a lot of potential for comedy there.”.

The character Brad seems to know what he wants in life until Wahlberg‘s Dusty shows-up and from there his insecurities become amplified and it is his competitive spirit that drives the plot along.  We ask the well-spoken and confident Ferrell about his own insecurities and after pausing to think, his response in true Ferrell form is hysterical.

He jokes, “My greatest insecurity is that Mark Wahlberg will be jealous of my one ab and that he won’t talk to me anymore.”.

We ask Ferrell about his upcoming projects, more specifically hoping he’ll dish on Zoolander 2 and his sassy fashion maven, Mugatu.  And he does.

“I’ve got Zoolander 2 coming out and I had a great time reprising Mugatu.  I’m working on reuniting with Adam McKay (Anchorman, Step Brothers, The Other Guys) and John C. Reilly on a Film about two guys who go down to protect the (southern U.S.) border.”.

We wish it were the Canadian-border though…  He seemed to know enough about Canadian Politics, answering questions about our new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with another outlet earlier.

See our Chat:

#TrueStory: #WillFerrell walks into the Canadian Premiere for #DaddysHome and asks, “Where’s Will Wong?!?”. And I faint. #Toronto #The6ix Photo by @alyssamhurst. A photo posted by Mr. Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on Dec 14, 2015 at 4:51pm PST

Paramount Pictures Canada release DADDY’S HOME on Christmas Day.

Review coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Alyssa Hurst)

Paramount Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to see Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg in DADDY’S HOME! Screenings take place in Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton + Calgary on Sunday, December 13, 2015. A special screening in Toronto takes place Monday, December 14, 2015 with a special guest.

Official Synopsis:
DADDY’S HOME follows a mild-mannered radio executive (Ferrell) who strives to become the best stepdad to his wife’s two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling and freeloading real father (Wahlberg) arrives, forcing him to compete for the affection of the kids.

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook.  Remember to state your city. Click “share” from there for an extra chance or Tweet the below too:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/daddyshome @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes to see #DADDYSHOME!  Out Christimas.

G’luck.

Paramount Pictures Canada release DADDY’S HOME on Friday, December 25, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

We loved them together in THE OTHER GUYS and now Mark Wahlberg + Will Ferrell are back together again in DADDY’S HOME, out this Christmas!  The things Men do when they get competitive!

Official Synopsis:
A mild-mannered radio executive (Will Ferrell) tries hard to be the world’s greatest stepfather. But when his wife’s freeloading ex-husband (Mark Wahlberg) comes back into the picture, he’s forced to compete for the kids’ affection.

See the Trailer:

Paramount Pictures Canada release DADDY’S HOME on Christmas Day!

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

Universal Pictures Canada + Mr. Will want to take Readers across Canada to see TED 2!  The  adorable, foul-mouth Teddy Bear back in 2012 won ours hearts in a big way and if there’s one Film we’ve been waiting for, this is it! Screenings take place in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, on Wednesday, June 24, 2015.

Official Synopsis:
Ted marries Tami-Lynn, his girlfriend from the first film, and the couple try for a baby together, with Ted asking his best friend John to provide sperm for artificial insemination. However, to have custody of this child, he has to prove to a court of law that he is human.

TED 2 stars Seth MacFarlane, Mark Wahlberg, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson and Amanda Seyfried.

Watch the Trailer (for Mature Audiences):

Official Artwork:

To enter to win Passes, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook and indicate for me your City and also tell me, should Ted have the right to be a parent?  You may click “share” from or Tweet the below also for an extra chance:

http://www.mrwillwong.com/ted2 @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #TED2! Out 6/26!

G’luck Willionaire$!

The Cast of Ted 2 + Mr. Will:

#Ted2 #MarkWahlberg #SethMacFarlane #Ted #AmandaSeyfried #LegalizeTed #TedMovie

A photo posted by Will Wong (@mrwillwong) on May 22, 2015 at 2:44pm PDT

Universal Pictures Canada release TED 2 on Friday, June 26, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Canada)

Words cannot describe how much we adore TED.  The 2012 Teddy Bear Action/Comedy/Fantasy had us in tears for many reasons and we are so happy to see this  brand new Trailer for its Sequel, TED 2!

See the Trailer:

Official Synopsis:

Seth MacFarlane returns as writer, director and voice star of Ted 2, Universal and Media Rights Capital’s follow-up to the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. Joined once again by star Mark Wahlberg and fellow Ted writers Alec Sulkin & Wellesley Wild, MacFarlane produces the live action/CG-animated comedy alongside Bluegrass Films’ Scott Stuber, as well as John Jacobs and Jason Clark. www.LegalizeTed.com

Universal Pictures Canada release TED 2 on Friday, June 26, 2015.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)

Paramount Pictures Canada and Mr. Will want to take Readers in Toronto and Montreal first to see THE GAMBLER starring Mark Wahlberg! Already drumming-up some buzz as we enter Awards Season, many are calling this perhaps his best performance yet. The Screening in Toronto takes place Wednesday, December 17, 2014 and Monday, December 22, 2014 in Montreal.

Official Synopsis:
English professor Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) is a high stakes gambler who routinely loses hundreds of thousands of dollars at blackjack and roulette tables. A risk taker, he’s already in debt for $240,000 when he borrows $50,000 from a brutal gangster named Neville (Michael Kenneth Williams), putting up his own life as collateral.

Bennett blows the $300,000 his mother (Jessica Lange) gives him to bail him out during a single trip to a Palm Springs Casino and immerses himself in an illicit, underground world while garnering the attention of loan shark Frank (John Goodman). It isn’t until Bennett develops a relationship with student Amy Phillips (Brie Larson) and she’s threatened, that he finds himself taking the ultimate risk to get a second chance.

See the Trailer:

See the Poster:

To enter to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will on Facebook. For an extra chance, you may Re-Tweet the below or share with your friends via the “share” button.

http://www.mrwillwong.com/thegambler @MRWILLW wants us to #win Passes to see #THEGAMBLER in #Toronto + #Montreal!

Good luck, Willionaire$!

Paramount Pictures release THE GAMBLER Christmas Day.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)

A meat-ing of the minds!  Made famous in these parts by the A&E Reality Show Wahlburgers, the Burger Restaurant of the same name opened its first franchise location officially tonight in Toronto!  Situated at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel, just minutes from the Rogers Centre, the 120-seat Establishment is the brainchild of Brothers Paul, Donnie and Mark Wahlberg with locally-sourced recipes helmed by the former.

Several Fans braved the cold, some coming as far as New York City, Ottawa and Peterborough for a chance to see the Brothers in-person.  Television Personality Jenny McCarthy, married to Donnie, also came to ring-in the festivities. Although Mark originally was slated to appear, it is said that a last-minute emergency prevented him from making the trek north this weekend.

Arriving at 6:00 PM sharp, it was pure fandemonium on a closed-down strip of Blue Jays Way.  Both Donnie and Jenny stopped to sign autographs for Fans, before heading-in to greet guests at their Private Party.  Media meanwhile waited patiently in the cold for an extended duration after their arrival before being given an opportunity to talk to the in-attendance Wahlberg Brothers.  Towards the end of the Party also, Paul came out to greet ecstatic Fans on the street.

We had the chance to try Mark‘s Thanksgiving Burger, which was sinfully-delicious, combining common Thanksgiving Day leftovers on seasoned ground turkey, with homemade roasted butternut squash and stuffing – smothered in an orange-cranberry sauce.  Our only complaint – the standard 5 oz. portion was meager. What Wahlburgers need to understand is that Torontonians – although quality-conscious – love to eat.  A side order of Sweet Potato Tots also were a crispy delight, although we found ourselves rather hungry still after our meal.  Next on our agenda is Donnie‘s BBQ Bacon Burger... in the 8 oz. size obviously!

We enjoyed the relaxed, casual atmosphere and Wahlberg Brother adornments throughout the space and fun 80s-90s Music blaring!

To learn more about Wahlburgers Toronto (64 Blue Jays Way) and its hours, click here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

It finally is happening! After soft launching recently, the long-awaited WAHLBURGERS Restaurant in Toronto finally is ready to be unveiled officially!

Coming-in for the festivities at the Green Carpet Affair are none other than The Wahlberg Brothers: Donnie, Paul and Mark this Saturday and also the lovely, Jenny McCarthy.

The Restaurant, inspired by the Brothers’ Childhood Favourites growing-up in Hingham, Massachusetts, is v. much Chef-Driven. They promise also to introduce some Canadian-catered items on the Menu in forthcoming months as part of their Burger of the Month program.

Highlighing the Menu are:

· Mark’s Choice: “The Thanksgiving Burger” made with fresh ground and seasoned turkey dressed with Paul’s orange cranberry sauce, homemade roasted butternut squash and stuffing.

· Donnie’s Choice: “The BBQ Bacon Burger” topped with white cheddar cheese, bacon and avocado, finished with jalapenos and a house-made BBQ sauce.

· Paul’s Choice: The Wahlburgers original “Our Burger” made fresh to order with the restaurant’s special blend of beef topped with government cheese (American cheese), dill pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and finished with the signature Wahl sauce.

All burgers are made of 100% pure Canadian Beef and the Menu also includes other Sandwiches and Salads. It is said their Sweet Potato Tots are quite a hit!

Wahlburgers is situated at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel at 318 Wellington Ave. West in Toronto. The 120-seat Restaurant opens Sunday-Wednesday 11:30 AM to midnight and Thursday-Saturday 11:30 AM to 2:00 AM.

Social Media Links:
www.facebook.com/WahlburgersCA
https://twitter.com/wahlburgersca
http://instagram.com/wahlburgersca

We’ll be there bringing you highlights from the Green Carpet!  Stay tuned. We’ve been dreaming about sinking our teeth at long last into one of these famous Burgers!

(Photo credit: Wahlburgers)

Toronto is in for a huge treat as the Stars of eagerly-awaited Summer Blockbuster Transformers: Age of Extinction have arrived for a day of Press in the City! Lined-up Breakout Stars Nicola Peltz (Bates Motel) and Jack Reynor (Delivery Man) are appearances on some of our biggest programs like eTalk, Entertainment Tonight Canada and City‘s Breakfast Television!

The Duo had the honours of throwing first pitch at tonight’s Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins game at Rogers Centre. Reynor showed his spirit, modelling for me his custom-made Transformers 4 Blue Jays Jersey! Love it.

Both Actors came with their respective Entourages and were great sports stopping to snap a Photo with me! Peltz, widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s new faces to look out for, even was nice enough to remove her jacket, showing her amazing top off after what looked like an awesome dinner! “Thanks for being amazing!”, the stunning Actress – who appears in the current issue of Interview Magazine (read more here) –  told me as she leaned in for what turned out to be five Snaps!

See our Snaps:

Paramount Pictures release TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION on Friday, June 27, 2014. Are you ready, Wongsters?

You still have one more week to win Passes to an Advance Screening but only if you’re a Fan of Mr. Will on Facebook!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Mr. Will Wong and Paramount Pictures want you to enter for a chance to win Advance Screening Passes to see one of this Summer’s most awaited Blockbusters, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION!   Screenings take place Wednesday, June 25, 2014 in Toronto and Montreal.

Official Synopsis:

TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved.  As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs.

With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet.  In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

Watch the mindblowing Trailer:

Official Artwork:

To enter for a chance to win, simply click “like” on this Post at Mr. Will Wong on Facebook. Also state your City and tell me who is your favourite Transformer under the comments of this Facebook Post.  You can increase your shot at winning by Re-Tweeting the below or sharing this Post with your Friends on Facebook!

http://www.mrwillwong.com/transformers4 @MRWILLW wants us to #win Advance Passes in Toronto + Montreal to see #TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION!  Out 6/27!

Contest deadline is Friday, June 20, 2014.

Good luck, Wongsters!

Mark Wahlberg & I in Toronto:

Paramount Pictures release TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION on Friday, June 27, 2014.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures)