Instant Family tells the story of Pete and Ellie, who find themselves successful in business yet approaching middle age wanting more. They talk about having children, but Pete jokes that he’s too old to have a new born, so they should just “adopt a 5-year-old”. What starts off as a joke becomes a real possibility once Ellie begins browsing adoption profiles and exclaims to Pete how many kids there are in foster care without permanent homes. After a long deliberation between the couple, they find themselves off to foster parenting classes before eventually taking in three siblings they meet at an adoption fair.
Of course, the story isn’t as smooth as described, and Pete and Ellie endure many challenges just like all other new parents, but what’s important about Instant Family is that it acknowledges stereotypes without relying on them. Pete and Ellie have numerous conversations discussing the common fears many prospective parents have when considering fostering to adopt. What makes the movie successful though, is that the story directly works against these fears. Pete and Ellie join many other prospective parents when they claim they wouldn’t want to foster a teenager because of the belief that teenagers come with more “damage” and behavioral problems. But as Pete and Ellie discover, older children are no more or less affected by their circumstances than younger children. The movie also dispels the myth that people who take in foster children are perfect saints, as it was shown in the film that there are a variety of people from different backgrounds and lifestyles who become foster and/or adoptive parents.
Ultimately, Instant Family is a film that will bring the idea of fostering and adopting into mainstream conversations, making it a film that everyone should see. Although cheesy at times and slightly predictable, the film serves as a reminder of the thousands of children in foster care waiting for a new family. It reinforces a fact that many people forget when they hear the words “foster kid”, that despite the abuse, violence, and drug use they were susceptible to because of their biological parents, they are just kids. They deserve a loving family just like anyone else, and Instant Family is proof of that. If you personally can’t provide that, however, consider being a CASA volunteer to ensure children in foster care have a safe and happy home.
