Instant Family (2018)

A couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.

Director:

Sean Anders

Writers:

Sean Anders, John Morris

Stars:

Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Merced

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mark Wahlberg	...	Pete
Rose Byrne	...	Ellie
Isabela Merced	...	Lizzy (as Isabela Moner)
Gustavo Escobar	...	Juan (as Gustavo Quiroz)
Julianna Gamiz	...	Lita
Octavia Spencer	...	Karen
Tig Notaro	...	Sharon
Tom Segura	...	Russ
Allyn Rachel	...	Kim
Britt Rentschler	...	Linda (as Brittney Rentschler)
Jody Thompson	...	Jim
Margo Martindale	...	Grandma Sandy
Julie Hagerty	...	Jan
Michael O'Keefe	...	Jerry
Joan Cusack	...	Mrs. Howard

Storyline

Married couple Pete and Ellie Wagner, feeling a void in the marriage, visit a foster care center. Two social workers, Karen and Sharon, guide the hopeful parents on the steps to getting into becoming adoptive parents. The couples are brought to a fair where they have the chance to go up to kids that they are interested in adopting. Pete and Ellie walk by the teenagers, although Ellie shows hesitance over raising a teen, but one of the teens, Lizzie, informs Ellie that they all know no one wants to adopt the teens. Pete and Ellie talk to Karen and Sharon over potentially taking in Lizzie. The social workers inform the couple that Lizzie's mother is a drug addict who is currently in jail, and she set their home on fire because she left the crack pipe lit. They also find that Lizzie has two younger siblings, Juan and Lita. Although this seems like more of a challenge for Pete and Ellie, they agree to meet the siblings. Pete and Ellie have Thanksgiving dinner with Ellie's family, where ...

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Plot Keywords:

foster parent | adoption | parenting | childless couple | texting | 

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Taglines:

Just add chaos laughter awkwardness mistakes love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual material, language and some drug references

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charlie McDermott has a brief appearance as Stewart. In his one line of dialogue, he says to Lizzie "what's up what's up?" That line was one of his featured lines in Sex Drive (2008), another movie by Sean Anders.

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Goofs

During the Thanksgiving dinner, Ellie has a red necklace appear and disappear multiple times.

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Quotes

Sharon: Did you meet any kids that you're curious about?
Pete: We met one little girl who was sitting all by herself, very sweet, a little guarded, kind of had a little wall around her. Really small for her age too, maybe a fetal alcohol thing or something?
Sharon: I saw her... Oh, right there.
Pete: The little sad-looking one with pigtails who seems like she's been chained to a radiator half her life.
Sharon: Uh, that's my daughter.
Pete: The radiator kid?

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Crazy Credits

Photos of real life foster families are seen throughout the end credits, interspersed with footage of Isabela Moner performing the end credits song, 'Stay with you'.

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Alternate Versions

For the film's Australian release, the distributor chose to remove a single use of strong language in order to obtain a PG classification. This edited version of the film was later used for its DVD/Video release. An uncut M classification was available.

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Connections

References Rocky III (1982)

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Soundtracks

Theme for Young Lovers
Written by Percy Faith
Performed by Percy Faith and His Orchestra (as Percy Faith & His Orchestra)
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

User Reviews

Extremely Well Written & Hilarious

Rating 9.4/10 I saw this movie today in Malaysia and it was just really well written. Dialogue and genuine care of the characters makes the experience so enjoyable. Best acting performance to all the characters in this movie ! Heart warming inspired in real events ! To director Sean Anders you did a great job !

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

16 November 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Instant Family

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$48,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$14,504,315, 18 November 2018

Gross USA:

$67,363,237

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$120,556,201

Company Credits

Production Co:

Closest to the Hole Productions, Leverage Entertainment, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1