Instant Family

Positive—This movie is not for everyone, that said, it was an excellent portrayal of the ups and downs of adoption and foster care. For those of us who have been foster parents and have adopted challenged kids, the brutal reality was actually close to the truth, and in many cases wasn’t as intense or as dark as the real deal.

These kids, and there are hundreds of thousands of them out there, are the biggest challenge a marriage, and family will EVER face. It had language, and sexual overtones, but that is absolutely par for the course for anyone who is active in this endeavor. During our 60 foster kids and 4 adoptions, I found that the majority of caregivers were Christians, and the unique behaviors of the kids destroyed several marriages that appeared strong on the surface.

For a layperson, without any knowledge of the challenges, heartbreak, frustration and hopefully eventual socialization of these kids, it would be a weird flick, but again, for those in the know, it is a well done, stark portrayal of the cold hard truth, and in reality was a tad sugar coated.

This is a dark side of life that most people don’t ever think about or deal with, and this movie did a remarkable job of portraying day-to-day life with these kids.

It should have been rated “R” for themes and language, but if you are considering foster care or adoption, see this flick!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4½

Positive—I certainly agree that the movie could be a bit misleading for those looking for a clean family flick to watch. However, it’s a really heartwarming portrayal of an adoption journey if you can get past the language and other issues in this mainstream Hollywood film.

My wife and I were foster parents before eventually adopting our daughter. We were crying during the scene where the judge is considering returning the kids to their mother. We lived that scenario after having a 2 year old boy with us for almost a year. He was sent back to his very sketchy birth father. We had to pull out the Klennex box after that scene.

It did a good job portraying the ups and downs of foster adoption in an entertaining way. Adult and kid actors did a really good job.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4

Negative—Do not think this will be a movie to take young kids to. There were several instances of the Lord’s name being taken in vain, the F-word and too much cussing. There was an instance where the daughter was sending naked pictures of herself, and the adoptive parents attacking the guy she sent the pictures to and getting arrested. The relationship between the parents was good, but all the cussing was ridiculous.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2½

Negative—My wife and I went to see this movie thinking after seeing the previews it was a “family” movie. It is not! The movie is about becoming a foster parent or foster parents. The language alone should have made this an “R” rated movie. The cussing is non-stop. There is a group of parents who have adopted who are in a “support” group. One couple is “christian,” and they are made to look like they can’t handle the boy they adopted. Another is a “gay” couple who, of course, are made to look like the most “successful” parents in the group.

Mark Wahlberg is a good actor, but unfortunately the language detracts from the films message throughout. The “children” in the film are led by an older sister who is 16, and she cusses as much at the adults, as well. She wears inappropriate clothing through some of the movie, and her rebellion is rewarded instead of disciplined. This could have been a “great” movie, but the message is that you can still be disrespectful to your adoptive parents and that’s okay. This is not a movie to take your kids to.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Extremely Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2½

…Sloppy but sincere, exasperating but endearing… the film commits errors of taste and tact… [but] on its own crowd-pleasing terms, “Instant Family” works. …

…a movie with good intentions but is uneven in tone, leaving me with mixed feelings. …wild swings between tragedy and goofy comedy… [2½]

…the adoption option, Hollywood style… imparts information about the plight of kids in the foster system and positive messages about adopting…

…a well-done formula comedy that’s like “Parenthood” for the age of adoptive empathy… it redefines family craziness as normal in a way that those who seek it out will gratefully relate to.

…Amid the silly jokes and slapstick, this film affectionately explores the pains and triumphs of foster parenting… earning more than a few genuine tears in its finale…

…It’s Sean Anders’s best movie. …