Susan Granger’s review of “Instant Family” (Paramount Pictures)
Inspired by writer/director Sean Anders’ and his wife Beth’s personal story, this is a gentle, warm-hearted comedy about a couple who fostered, then adopted three children.
When house-flippers Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) decide to start a family, they stumble into the world of foster care adoption, as conscientious social workers (Tig Notaro, Octavia Spencer) try to prepare them for the emotionally complicated hurdles they’ll have to overcome.
Attending an “adoption fair,” where prospective parents scope out children, they wind up with 15 year-old Lizzy (Isabela Moner), her younger brother Juan (Gustavo Quiroz) and little sister Lita (Julianna Gamiz).
At first, the kids are on their best behavior. But then reality rears its disruptive head as the kids must learn boundaries and establish trust. Throwing temper tantrums, Lita refuses to eat anything but chips; klutzy, apologetic Juan inadvertently causes chaos; and protective Lizzy refuses to cede control over her siblings.
Overwhelmed, Pete and Ellie realize that they’ve taken on a tremendous responsibility. Late at night, they remind themselves they don’t have to keep these children, musing how their lives would be sublimely uncomplicated if they gave them back.
“We gotta just accept that we made a terrible mistake, and our lives are mostly going to suck now,” Pete concludes.
Sean Anders (“Daddy’s Home,” “That’s My Boy,” “Horrible Bosses 2”) has previously indulged in silly, immature humor, better suited to TV sit-coms. This time – after an awkward start – he’s crafted a poignant screenplay, co-writing with John Morris.
Anders is to be commended for tackling the foibles and frustrations of our American foster care system, albeit skirting the touchy topics of race, class and privilege and stumbling into a cautionary subplot about infatuated Lizzy sexting with the school’s predatory janitor.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Instant Family” is an endearing, inspirational 6, dedicated to ensuring that the over 100,000 children in foster care find ‘forever’ homes. To learn more, go to instantfamily.org and adoptuskids.org.
