86. Instant Family; movie review

INSTANT FAMILY
Cert 12A
118 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate sex and drug references, infrequent strong language

Well, this turned out to be a whole lot better than we had imagined.
However, it reinforced why I should never watch trailers - particularly of comedies. I had already seen too many of the best jokes.
I have never been convinced by Mark Wahlberg as a comic, preferring him in grittier roles such as The Fighter and Lone Survivor.
But during Instant Family, his chemistry with Rose Byrne and, in particular, Gustavo Quiroz, Julianna Gamiz and Isabela Moner works.
Quiroz, Gamiz and Moner play three siblings who have been through a series of foster homes after their drug-addict mother was sent to jail.
They are taken in by a naive couple (Wahlberg and Byrne) who decide to foster with an eye to adoption after the very briefest amount of research.

Indeed, they think it is going to be a breeze to be parents to three damaged children despite warnings for their social workers (Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro) to the contrary.
Thus, the fun comes from the kids giving their new 'parents' the runaround and the heartfelt but hopeless reactions of Bryne and Wahlberg's characters to them.
Margo Martindale and Julie Hagerty add to the fun as grandmas competing for affection.
There is a serious point to Instant Family because it promotes both fostering and adoption through its end credits.
But Sean Anders' film will mainly be remembered for its laughs.
Quiroz's super-clumsy young boy prompts several as do Martindale and Hagerty (is Airplane 2 really 37 years ago?).
Meanwhile, Wahlberg brings an unexpected warmth as does Byrne in a more chaotic way.
I expected Instant Family to be packed with misplaced gags and overbearing sweetness. It is true that it contains both but they are tempered enough to allow the fun to breathe.
On reflection, I think it benefits hugely from Anders having adopted children and lived through the process. Therefore, he has been able to elicit tears and laughter.

Reasons to watch: Comedy with some serious points
Reasons to avoid: Does have a number of misfired gags

Laughs: Six
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 7.5/10

Did you know? In 2016, over 687,000 children spent time in American foster care. On average, children remain in state care for nearly two years and six per cent of children in foster care have languished there for five or more years.

The final word. Sean Anders: "When you hear these stories in real life, they’re amazing stories and very compelling and very inspirational. I want people who see this movie to have a better idea of who these people are.."

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