--- title: "Instant Family: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/instant-family/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/instant-family" critics_score: 67 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Instant Family (2018): what the critics said Critics' score 67 from 17 reviews: 12 positive, 3 mixed, 2 negative. ## IndieWire — David Ehrlich Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. The critic calls it the best Mark Wahlberg movie in a long time, praising its clear sense of purpose in telling a heartfelt story about foster care and adoption. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/instant-family-review-mark-wahlberg-1202020442/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. Anders delivers a funny and moving dramedy that hits the sweet spot of hilarious and heartwarming family dynamics. The strong supporting cast, including scene-stealing turns from Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro, adds sharp humor and depth. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-instant-family-review-20181114-story.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 15 February 2019. The critic finds the film a sweet and funny comedy about foster parenting, drawn from personal experience and bypassing mawkish expectations with big-hearted humour. Wahlberg and Byrne's chemistry and the supporting cast, including care workers Tig Notaro and Octavia Spencer, are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/feb/15/instant-family-review-cute-clueless-foster-parent-fun) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. This is a well-executed, sentimental feel-good comedy that redefines family craziness as normal with a lite humanity. Wahlberg and Byrne are appealing as the befuddled couple, supported by strong comic turns from Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/instant-family-review-mark-wahlberg-rose-byrne-1203028058/) ## Empire — Ian Freer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2019. The critic finds the film an engaging, entertaining comedy-drama with its heart in the right place, closer to Parenthood than a generic knockabout. It wins out on performances, especially from Rose Byrne and Isabela Moner, though tonal shifts between comedy and schmaltz are not fully unified. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/instant-family-review/) ## The AV Club — Caroline Siede Rating B-. 14 November 2018. The critic notes the film is more touching than funny, balancing broad slapstick with unexpected heart while delivering an old-fashioned message about the foster care system without sugarcoating its difficulties. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/mark-wahlberg-and-rose-byrne-build-an-instant-family-in-1830369156) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Jon Frosch Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. The critic finds the film sloppy yet sincere, an unwieldy mix of jokes and maudlin moments that ultimately works as a broad but big-hearted crowd-pleaser thanks to its warmth and effort. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/instant-family-review-1161049/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 November 2018. The critic describes the film as both utterly heartfelt and utterly shameless, a dissonant mix of broad humor and earnest drama that mostly works despite jarring tonal shifts and stirs powerful emotions. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/instant-family-review.html) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 14 February 2019. The film is described as a big, beige armchair of a studio comedy that mines talking points from the director's own fostering experience for laughter and tears. Byrne and Wahlberg are praised for their appealing comic pairing, though the overall tone is seen as conventional. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/instant-family-review-mark-wahlberg-rose-byrne-raise-admirably/) ## Time Out — Michael Gingold Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2018. The critic notes genuine heart and feeling in the adoption comedy based on the director's experiences, but wishes it maintained a consistent tone without repeated forced gags and contrived situations. Strong performances by Isabela Moner and Margo Martindale stand out. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/instant-family) ## RogerEbert.com — Monica Castillo Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. The film has good intentions but is uneven in tone with mixed results from its swings between tragedy and goofy comedy. Isabela Moner's complex, fierce performance as the troubled teen stands out as the strongest element. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/instant-family-2018) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating B+. 14 November 2018. The critic praises the film for balancing heart and humor while addressing foster care issues accessibly without being preachy. They single out the comic chemistry between Wahlberg and Byrne and the self-aware handling of sensitive topics. [Read the review](https://collider.com/instant-family-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 4/5. 15 February 2019. The critic finds the film surprisingly deep and moving beyond its marketing as a feel-good comedy, praising the performances especially Isabela Moner and the handling of fostering themes with humor and heart. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/instant-family-review/) ## The Wrap — William Bibbiani Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. The film starts as a broad comedy but reveals itself as an earnest and moving drama about foster parenting. The critic praises its honest portrayal of the challenges while affirming that love makes the effort worthwhile. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/instant-family-film-review-rose-byrne-mark-wahlberg/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 November 2018. This well-meaning comedy mixes laughs with a positive message about foster care and adoption, making it a pleasant family film. The critic highlights the strong chemistry and performances of leads Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/video/instant-family-review-mark-wahlberg-rose-byrne-foster-care-comedy/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 14 November 2018. The critic finds the film treacly, pandering, and tonally confusing, criticizing its clichéd suburban humor and failure to deeply engage with the subject matter despite good intentions. They single out the weak performances and predictable script. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2018/11/film-review-instant-family/) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 18 February 2019. The review dismisses the film as unengaging and clichéd, criticizing its predictable plot about adoption and lack of genuine emotional pull despite decent performances from the leads. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/instant-family-2018-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/instant-family.md