Instant Family (2018)

Director: Sean Anders
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner
Runtime: 118 minutes

Synopsis: A married couple decides to adopt 3 children.

• Performances: 5/10

Why? Comedic performances are not easy to nail, and both Byrne and Wahlberg have proven in the past that they definitely have the skills to elevate any comedy they're in. Unfortunately, this was not the case in the latest Sean Anders production in which they don't bring anything new to the table and offer very forgettable performances. I did, however, enjoy the chemistry the couple had which helped make their characters a bit more relatable despite not benefiting from proper development. Isabela Moner gave a surprisingly solid performance as Lizzy, the eldest of the three adopted children, while the actors playing her siblings weren't convincing at all. 

• Screenplay: 4/10

Why? "Instant Family" feels like it should've come out 10 years ago. The narrative was presented in a very chaotic and sketch-like way that was extremely predictable, and the characters were barely developed making it hard to relate to them at all. I had a couple of small laughs here and there but most jokes were incredibly forced and didn't land in my opinion. However, I do believe that some parents might enjoy the film much more than I did, as they will find the main characters' experience relatable.  

• Costumes/Makeup: 5/10

Why? Nothing to say here.

• Editing: 5/10

Why? As I said earlier, the movie looked like a series of unrelated sketches that happened to star the same characters, and while it is mainly the script's fault, its editing didn't help make the narrative more homogenous. At 118 minutes, the film is also way too long for a comedy of this type, which usually never surpasses the 100-minute mark.

• Cinematography: 5/10

Why? The film was decently shot and its cinematography didn't bother me at all (apart from some scenes where I felt that it was shot on a phone), but much like everything else in the movie, it didn't take any risks (unlike the cinematography in "Game Night", another comedy that belongs in the same category as "Instant Family" but that is much, much more original and better in every aspect).

• Score/Soundtrack: 4/10

Why? Again, zero risks were taken. The soundtrack was extremely over the top and predictable.

FINAL GRADE: 5/10