“Instant Family” may have been released in 2018, but it has found new life on Netflix. The drama has some comedy and a lot of heart. If you’re on the fence about whether the film is worth the time to watch, read on!
“Instant Family”
“Instant Family” was produced by Paramount Pictures (Leverage Entertainment, Closest to The Hole Productions, Two Grown Men Productions). The drama is a fictional story about family, even if that family is chosen instead of being born to you. It was directed by Sean Anders and written by Sean Anders and John Morris. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Merced, Gustavo Escobar, Julianna Gamiz, Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, Tom Segura, Allyn Rachel, Julie Hagerty, Michael O’Keefe, Joan Cusack
Synopsis
“Instant Family” is a 2018 film that has recently found its way to Netflix, where it is the #2 movie today, May 18, 2025.
The movie tells the story of Pete and Ellie (Wahlberg and Byrne), who are dealing with the judgment of family members because they haven’t had any children and seem to have no plans to. They discuss becoming foster parents and, after much angst, decide to go forward with it. A trio of siblings are placed in their care (Merced, Escobar, and Gamiz). They aren’t as prepared for the difficulties of caring for the 15-, 10-, and 6-year-olds.
There is the expected drama from raising a teen girl, but with the added complication of her family history. After all, Lizzy (Merced, who is most recently getting press for her role as Dina in “The Last of Us“) has been caring for her younger siblings for a long time. They haven’t had any security.
Review
It’s clear why “Instant Family” has been so successful since coming to Netflix. It’s billed as a drama/comedy, but we’d classify it as a drama. It’s a film about family and what it means to be family. We found ourselves crying more than once in the latter half of the movie. Without knowing much about the film, we expected it to be another case of a sibling’s death leaving the children with their aunt and uncle. So, it was refreshing to find a story that is more anchored in something children experience every day.
The writing and acting were able to bring across the pain that Lizzy felt as well as the love of foster parents who have to face that these children might not stay with them for life. The performances of Wahlberg, Byrne, the kids, Spencer and Notaro (as the foster agency representatives) were believable. It was good to see each of them as flawed, imperfect people trying to do their best for the kids.
It felt like the film was honest about some of the difficulties of being a foster parent and of being a foster child. The humor was good. The “Blind Side” reference was cringey. It’s apt but we don’t know if it was really necessary. The humor of the various couples trying to cope with their newfound foster families was enough.
Final Thoughts
“Instant Family” is a kind-hearted fictional family drama with a basis in reality that will tug your heartstrings and make you question whether you should become a foster parent. If you have the means and the love to give, then we think it’s a worthwhile thing to do. Spread kindness.
