Instant Family

When it works, it's genuinely funny and moving. But when it doesn't, hoo boy, it's atrocious. But it mostly works. I think. Maybe.

You could call it sentimental and glib and say that it was put through a processor, and you'd be right, but in its on-the-nose cookie-cutter way this slice-of-life pablum has a lite humanity.

There's genuine heart and feeling scattered throughout Instant Family, enough to make one wish it would stick to a consistent tone without being repeatedly undercut with forced gags.

Every hurt gets a balm applied real quick, the better to get to the next classic-rock-scored feel-good montage.

At it's best, Instant Family is a likeable and admirable film. And at its worst, it's still a lot better than the film I was half-expecting to see. Bravo.

It's a shame that "Instant Family" reduces the complexity, pain and joy of parenthood to a multiplex-palatable family comedy. The real story is probably far more interesting ... and hopefully funnier.

While of course this is a Hollywood take on it all, it still pulses with real authenticity, unafraid to deliver on the more confronting aspects of the process while at the same time seeing the humour and the heart in as much of that as it can.

It's genial and spirited and - unsurprisingly, given its genesis - has at least a basic feel for life as it's lived, full of stings and surprises.

...this film's heart is undeniably in the right place.