Instant Family

It has its flaws, including an exceedingly sickly-sweet ending, but I don’t want to knock it for each and every mistake, because there aren't that many family comedies with a meaningful message. And who knows, maybe this movie will actually convince some hesitant married couples to adopt a child. (60%) (03/07/2022)

Well, that was good. This low-key comedy with a not-so-great marketing campaign is finally the hit of the spring and Mark Wahlberg scores more points. A husband and wife decide to adopt a child, but end up adopting three rebels, including 15-year-old Isabel Moner, the quintessential sassy out-of-control teen. Laughter literally alternates with crying, and it's very pretty to watch. 80%. (03/05/2019)

A huge disappointment. Although I'm used to Mark Wahlberg starring in rather poor films lately, this was something I didn’t expect in the least. I don’t think I have ever been under such a powerful attack of various clichés, with nowhere to hide because everything was subsequently flooded by a tsunami of pathos. The comedy was weak, but what the authors succeeded in was sappy melodrama, hence my rating. (05/09/2019)

Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne are a pair of actors I’m very happy to see in movies. And when they are cast as leads in a chill-out family comedy, I cannot be dissatisfied. A naturally flowing fun, an interesting premise that is well conveyed, no vulgarity. I see no reason to rate this with less than four stars. (11/06/2019)