Instant Family  ★★★

THE American comedy Instant Family will hit a sweet spot with many viewers.

It has two engaging actors playing a likeable couple who decide to adopt three cute children.

There are tears and arguments along the way but you can watch assured in the knowledge that it will all work out in the end and the experimental foster family will become a happy, nuclear one.

The weakest part of Instant Family is surprisingly the comedy which on many occasions is either lame or jarring.

The delivery is generally not great and sometimes comedic lines are wildly at odds with your expectations of the characters.

What pushes the film along is the good intentions of director and writer Sean Anders who draws on his own similar experiences as a foster parent to bring authenticity and heart to the narrative.

While Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne are fine in the lead roles, the stand-out performance comes from Isabella Moner who plays the oldest member of the adopted siblings.

She nicely portrays a combination of a typical angsty teenager also dealing with the responsibility of looking after her two siblings.

All the scenes between her and Rose Byrne are highlights along with the final act where the family are united.

Like another recent Australian release, Top End Wedding, Instant Family is mainly marketed as a comedy but it’s the human story about individuals and family connecting that actually drives the film and wins you over.