Commercial Hollywood comedies about the glory and absurdity of modern family life tend to come in two flavors: earnest and wack job. If Will Ferrell had starred in “Instant Family,” a comedy about an attractive, childless, edging-into-middle-age couple who take in a brood of foster kids who prove to be more trouble than they look, the movie would have been an over-the-top synthetic farce crammed with masochistic dad jokes; even the hugs would have been yocks. But “Instant Family,” starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne as a happily married but vaguely saddened white-bread couple (they barely have a clue as to how much they need children!), who take a trio of Hispanic-American siblings under their untested wings, isn’t a zany obnoxious head conk of a movie.
It was directed, as well as co-written, by Sean Anders, who made “Daddy’s Home” and “Daddy’s Home 2” (which were that sort...
It was directed, as well as co-written, by Sean Anders, who made “Daddy’s Home” and “Daddy’s Home 2” (which were that sort...
- 11/14/2018
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Early press screenings of Sean Anders’ “Instant Family” came with an unexpected bit of pre-show entertainment: an introduction from filmmaker Sean Anders, during which the director of such decidedly non-family-friendly features like “Sex Drive” and “That’s My Boy” explained the real-life experiences that informed his newest film. Regular moviegoers won’t see that video when they go to see “Instant Family” in theaters, but they will be treated to the kind of title card that has never previously adorned an Anders joint: “inspired by a true story.”
Nearly eight years ago, Anders and his wife Beth decided it was time to become parents, but worried that they might be starting too late, they turned to the foster system. Eventually, the pair rounded out their family with a trio of siblings. Their real-life experience frames up the film’s plotline, which follows Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) as...
Nearly eight years ago, Anders and his wife Beth decided it was time to become parents, but worried that they might be starting too late, they turned to the foster system. Eventually, the pair rounded out their family with a trio of siblings. Their real-life experience frames up the film’s plotline, which follows Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) as...
- 11/13/2018
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
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