ABC Film Challenge – Comedy – I – Instant Family (2018) Movie Review
Director: Sean Anders
Writer: Sean Anders, John Morris (Screenplay)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner, Gustoavo Quiroz, Julianna Gamiz, Octavia Spencer
Plot: A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.
Tagline – Just add chaos laughter awkwardness mistakes love.
Runtime: 1 Hour 58 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Brilliant
Story: Instant Family starts as DIY experts Pete (Wahlberg) and Ellie (Byrne) decide it is about time to start a family. Only they look at adoption, eventually taking in three children, teenager Lizzy (Moner), Juan (Escobar) and Lita (Gamiz). Who have been through the system for years now.
After spending time learning to adjust, be it Lizzy’s attitude, Juan’s nervous behaviour and Lita’s tantrums. Can Pete and Ellie build the bridges before losing their minds and become the parents they always wished they could be.
Thoughts on Instant Family
Characters – Pete and Ellie are a happily married couple that work together on fixing up homes. They hadn’t ever discussed having a family until they agree to adopt. They think it is going to be easy, until they find themselves needing to deal with things they didn’t expect, needing to hold everything together and prove they are ready for everything.
Lizzy is the teenager they adopt, she has always been raising her siblings, waiting for the mum to be released. While also being a troublesome teenager. Juan and Lita are the younger two kids, they are easily to learn how to be parents around either with their own faults.
Performances – Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne are both wonderful as they show the natural insecurity they are feeling as foster parents. Isabela Moner is great as the oldest child of the three, while the younger two both do everything required in the film.
Story
The story here follows a couple that decide they want to adopt a child and end up with three children and must deal with raising children all of a sudden. Along with the ups and downs of being foster parents. This story is based on a real family and clearly is putting the spotlight on adopt children who have been through tough times in the foster system.
How everything is shown, does show the dramatic change in become parents overnight. Where anything can be taught, but putting into practise is always going to be difficult. Everything is show in a patient way, with the uneasy being shown through the film through the characters.
Comedy – The comedy isn’t the strongest, but the film doesn’t turn into a full comedy, more of a drama with a good number of laughs, nothing feels overly played out.
Settings – The film keeps us in a family setting to show us just how perfect Pete and Ellie would be for a foster child. This is important because it is something the children have never experienced before.
Scene of the Movie – The courtroom two.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Not sure why both parents get arrested.
Final Thoughts – This is a brilliant film that puts a firm spotlight on foster system in America, with wonderful performances and a story that could melt a heart.
Overall: Essential Watching.
