Watch Instant Family

Instant Family is a heartwarming comedy-drama film that tells the story of Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne), a loving couple who decide to take the leap and become foster parents. The movie opens with the couple attending a foster care fair where they meet a pair of siblings, a witty and mature teenager named Lizzy (Isabela Merced) and her quirky younger brother Juan (Gustavo Quiroz). Despite their initial hesitation and lack of experience, Pete and Ellie agree to take in the kids and start their journey as a new family.

As the couple navigates the unique challenges of fostering and parenting, they quickly realize that there is no textbook way to raise teenagers. While Lizzy is smart and opinionated, she is also guarded and has a difficult time trusting others due to her past experiences in the foster care system. On the other hand, Juan is playful and energetic but struggles with behavioral issues and anxiety.

With the help of a support group of other foster parents and their social worker Karen (Octavia Spencer), the couple works to create a stable and loving home environment for the kids. They learn to embrace their new roles as parents and confront their own insecurities and fears along the way.

The film does an excellent job of depicting the challenges and joys of foster care adoption. It highlights the importance of love, patience, and understanding when dealing with children who have experienced trauma and neglect. The script also delves into the bureaucratic and complex nature of the foster care system, shedding light on the various obstacles that foster parents face.

One of the standout performances in the film is Isabela Merced's portrayal of Lizzy. Merced delivers a nuanced and emotional performance that captures the complexities of a teenager who has been through so much in her young life. Her scenes with the other actors are some of the film's most poignant and heart-wrenching moments.

Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne's chemistry also shines through in their portrayal of Pete and Ellie. Their performances showcase the humor and tenderness that come with navigating the world of foster care adoption.

The film's director, Sean Anders, has a personal connection to the story as he and his wife are foster parents themselves. His firsthand experience and passion for the subject matter are evident throughout the movie. He manages to balance the emotional weight of the story with moments of levity that make the film both poignant and heartwarming.

In addition to the talented cast and well-written script, the film's production design and cinematography are also noteworthy. The movie features some stunning visual sequences, including a montage of the family bonding over their shared love of karaoke.

Overall, Instant Family is a feel-good film that celebrates the power of love, family, and resilience. It sheds light on an often overlooked aspect of parenting and adoption and does so with a tremendous amount of heart and authenticity. The film is a must-watch for anyone who has been touched by the foster care system or who simply loves a heartwarming family movie.

Instant Family is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 57 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 57.