Instant Family
Film
Review by Kam Williams
Altruistic
Couple Adopts Three Siblings in Inspirational, Real- Life Drama
Pete
(Mark
Wahlberg) and Ellie Wagner (Rose Byrne) are speculators who make a
living flipping real estate in their hometown of Atlanta. The
couple's latest acquisition is a fixer-upper with five bedrooms they
hope to sell to Ellie's sister Kim (Allyn Rachel) and brother-in-law
Russ (Tom Segura).
However,
Kim and Russ aren't in the market for a house that needs so much
work. Furthermore, they're childless with no plans to start a family.
So, they simply have no use for a place that large.
Pete
and Ellie don't have kids either, but they have been seriously
considering adoption. In fact, they've even been checking out photos
of available orphans online.
Next
thing you know, they're visiting a foster care facility during an
adoption fair run by administrators Karen (Octavia Spencer) and
Sharon (Tig Notaro). While being escorted around the grounds, Pete
hits it off with Lizzy (Isabela Moner), a headstrong, 15 year-old
obviously in need of a father figure.
Trouble
is, Lizzy has been serving as a surrogate mother to her little
brother (Gustavo Quiroz) and sister (Julianna Gamiz), and she doesn't
want to be separated from her siblings. Do the Wagners have enough
love in their hearts to adopt all three?
Of
course they do, and the ensuing adjustment to parenthood is the sum
and substance of Instant Family, an inspirational biopic co-written
and directed by Sean Anders. The semi-autobiographical adventure is
based on Anders own real-life experience.
To
its credit, Instant Family does tackle a variety of serious themes
ranging from drug abuse, to sexual abuse, to racial tolerance, even
if the issues are generally resolved fairly easily. An uplifting
adventure apt to lead to an uptick in applications for adoptions.
Very
Good (3 stars)
Rated
PG-13
for sexuality, profanity, drug references and mature themes
Running
time: 118 minutes
Production
Studio: Closest to the Hole Productions
Studio:
Paramount Pictures