Review of Instant Family (2018) by Compi24 — 05 Feb 2022

As a chronic cynic who thought this movie looked like vacuous drivel based on its initial trailers and TV spots, I honestly could not be more surprised by it and ashamed of myself in turn. By God, not only does it have something to say, but it's actually quite effective at communicating it.

Pulling from co-writer/director Sean Anders's true-to-life experiences as a foster parent, this has to be the most meaningful and agreeable film of the guy's career. I usually don't say this of a director whose other films I haven't seen, but with Anders's other films consisting of "Sex Drive," "That's My Boy" and the two "Daddy's Home" movies, am I really that off-base here? With this, it's the honesty that hooked me.

This is a movie that isn't afraid to rattle off and address the litany of issues that have plagued the American foster care system and the difficulties associated with being foster parent/child. Even if it has its missteps along the way, I have to commend the project for even attempting to touch on topics like this, let alone within a studio comedy setting.

Major props to Anders and everyone else involved for crafting something that — in addition to being a genuinely entertaining and surprisingly humorous watch — could make a difference in someone's life.