Instant Family Review

Based on writer/director Sean Anders (That’s My Boy, Daddy’s Home) personal life experience, Instant Family is a wholesome tale about a happily married couple Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) who feel they hit a rut in their marriage and want a kid. But Pete doesn’t want to be an “old dad” so they decide to adopt a kid, luckily or unluckily (depends who you ask) they get roped into adopting three siblings, Lizzy (Isabela Moner), Juan (Gustavo Quiroz), and Lita (Julianna Gamiz).Things start off great for Pete and Ellie but slowly it starts to show how rough things are not only for adopting children but having children in general.

Instant Family is the third film that Sean Anders and Mark Wahlberg have worked together on, and this film is as good if not better than the others. Anders really knew what he was doing with this one, it was super funny, and I don’t think I have laughed that hard at a movie this whole year. But he also doesn’t pull any punches and the feels get really dark and sad at times. Anders blends it together perfectly in Instant Family. The film runs for nearly two hours but it doesn’t feel like it at all, it keeps the viewers interested and entertained the entire time.

The experience from both Wahlberg and Byrne really shows but to no surprise. However, it was a surprise at how good Isabela Moner acting was, and how well the supporting cast was as well. There wasn’t bad acting, just some bad moments from Gustavo and Julianna, which is to be excepted from younger actors. Also worth mentioning Octavia Spencer provided some of the funniest scenes in film. The quality of the film was excellent; it flowed better and felt better than most movies in the last couple years.

The Conclusion

Instant Family is a no hold bars comedy that shows how crazy life can get with kids. Being a somewhat personal project from Sean Anders it only makes sense that he truly cared about the film. Building off Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne the cast is on a solid foundation, I don’t think it could be any better. Instant Family does a good to keep the audience invested for two hours, by making you laugh and cry. The film is one of the best comedies of the year and it deserves a watch.

Instant Family Review at Theater with Standard Viewing
Screening Provided by Paramount

Rating Overall: 8.0