INSTANT FAMILY (2018)

Rose Byrne is an actress who elevates every project she’s a part of. I bow down to her prowess. She’s got range; she’s funny and she’s incredibly believable, whatever it is she’s doing. In Instant Family, she plays opposite Mark Wahlberg as a house flipper couple who decide to adopt a child and actually end up adopting 3 siblings. The story was charming and felt realistic - there weren’t Air Bud style kid movie shenanigans, like food fights or wacky misunderstandings.. Even Pete and Ellie (Wahlberg and Byrne) had a scene expressing regret for their decision, which was a scene I wasn’t expecting but respected its inclusion. The kids were peppered in just enough that it didn’t feel obnoxious, unlike last year’s Nutcrackers (2024). Overall, the movie is an easy watch, but definitely something you put on after dinner for your parents to fall asleep on the couch to. Nothing radical but still better than some of the dogshit that’s on Netflix.

Food Recommendation: Eastside Italian Deli, out by Dodgers Stadium. Humble, easy, and you get a lot more than you expected. Even the leftovers hold up. I recommend the pastrami.