Pete (Mark Wahlberg) and Ellie (Rose Byrne) are looking to adopt and have no idea where to begin. When they finally choose to go the way of fostering a teenager, Lizzy (Isabela Merced), they are shocked to find out that her younger siblings, Juan (Gustavo Escobar) and Lita (Julianna Gamiz), are a necessary part of the deal. As they try to become acclimated to their new life, they find that these children, who just days before were strangers, are now their new, instant family.
In the early going, something about the script and the acting was off. It appears that writers Sean Anders and John Morris attempted to force humor, rather than letting the talented cast members shine. Wahlberg, Byrne and Octavia Spencer (Karen) looked less than adequate within the first thirty minutes due to the fact that, as mentioned before, Anders and Morris attempted to shove jokes down the viewer’s throats. Their attempt to force humor on audiences made the initial part of the film difficult to watch.
I cringed and often asked myself if I’d be able to survive the next hour and a half, and then suddenly, the tides turned. The three leads and the talented and energetic children took charge and let their acting ability take over the film. The humor remained dry and inaccessible to some, but the actors managed to take what was given to them and turn it into something big. Beyond the humor was the emotional side of the script. This is where Anders and Morris stepped up their game. Their appeal to audiences’ emotions was unparalleled and impossible to ignore. Regularly throughout the course of the film, the story took a turn for what might be considered the worse and caused audiences to feel something for the characters and about themselves. Audiences were unable to avoid the emotion, and they were often forced to evaluate their lives and their personal endeavors. It did not, however, put a damper on viewer’s realities, it simply allowed them to appreciate what they have and their future goals. Even with the difficulties that came with Pete and Ellie fostering the three children, not a moment past that would not justify this being considered a feel good film. Every step the couple took toward becoming parents was relatable--and, not just by people who have experienced parenthood.
Anyone who has ever faced adversity can relate to the trials and tribulations depicted in this film. While comedy was not their strong point, the writers found a way to appeal directly to the emotion of the audience and tell a story of love and perseverance.
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