Chaos, Comedy, and Heart: Sean Anders’ Instant Family (2018) Explores Foster Care the Right Way

Instant Family is a 2018 dramedy about Pete and Ellie Wagner, who are a middle-aged couple played by Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. After years of being taunted and pressured by their relatives for not having kids, they attend a foster care orientation and decide to adopt. They eventually welcome 3 kids into their home: teenage Lizzy and her younger brother and sister, Juan and Lita. But the process of settling into the new family isn’t all that easy. Both parents and kids face a series of growing pains, including tantrums, tears, and eventually bonding. Throughout the film they deal with many obstacles such as Lizzy’s refusal to trust them, Juan struggling in school, Lita acting out at home, awkward family dinners, and even a disastrous trip to the fair. However, amid the chaos going on around them, the family is slowly growing closer to one another as they face the hardships at hand. 

I watched this film for the first time when I was about 11 years old. At the time, I mostly enjoyed how funny the film was, especially the constant misunderstandings, family arguments, and awkward situations that Pete and Ellie found themselves in. I thought it was a pretty straightforward comedy, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate the film’s emotional depth. Rewatching it now, I understand those emotional moments a lot more and notice details that completely went over my head the first time I watched. It is one of those movies that gets better every time you watch it.

There is a vulnerable and emotional side of the film that comes from the real-life challenges in the foster care system. The screenplay does not shy away from showing how difficult the process can be both for the children and the parents. For example, Pete and Ellie struggle with the pressures of suddenly raising three kids, while the children have to learn to trust a family after experiencing instability and disappointment. What surprised me most was that the film never lets these serious moments feel overly depressing. Instead, it naturally shifts back and forth between comedy and drama, which makes the emotional scenes hit even harder. By the end, the film shows that building a family takes patience, trust, and time, and above all, that family does not have to be something you are born into. 

The film is able to convey these messages in multiple ways, one of the strongest being through its performances. In particular, Wahlberg and Byrne really convey how the parents are not perfect, but are trying their best. Another shoutout in the cast has to be Isabela Merced as Lizzy, the teenager and oldest of the siblings who the couple takes in. While I’ll admit her character can feel a little frustrating at times, she ultimately comes cacross as likable and sympathetic. This is all attributed to Merced's performance. Two of my other favorite performances in this film are by Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro as the guidance counselors. They not only have amazing chemistry, but also provide some of the funniest moments in the film.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't touch on the direction by Sean Anders. Anders had previously directed other films I really enjoy such as the Daddy's Home series, and he brings a similar comedy style to Instant Family. However, what makes this film different is Anders’ personal connection to the story, as he and his wife adopted through the foster care system themselves. I think that experience really comes through on screen and gives the film a much more authentic feel. His blend of comedy and drama also makes the story feel more realistic. The truth is that real families are not happy all the time or sad all the time. They can go from laughing together to arguing within minutes, and I think the film captures that kind of balanced chaos really well. 

If there is one critique I have, it would be that the film's balance between comedy and drama is not always perfect. The first half is much more comedic, while the second half becomes much more emotional. At times this can feel a little jarring, but it never bothered me that much because it matches the journey the characters are going through. As Pete and Ellie become more invested in the children, the film naturally becomes more serious as well.