Instanty Family Director Sean Anders Interview
13Instanty Family Director Sean Anders Interview
Damn, Instant Family. There was simply no way this heart-warming ‘family-is-what-you-make-it’ dramedy was going to get cynical, emotionless ol’ me… Heck, I can watch the opening of Up on a loop—and remain stone-faced. Pretty cold, right? But somehow Instant Family wormed its way into my heart, and by the third-act, I found myself dreading just how emotionally affecting the film was… Where usually this type of film feels manipulative and saccharine, Instant Family instead feels honest and lived-in. Perhaps this is because, it’s actually based on filmmaker Sean Anders’ own adoption story (he and his wife adopted three children, too). Because of this authenticity, the film isn’t afraid to tackle some pretty dark subject matters—the hardships of adoption, drug addiction, sexual abuse—making its inevitable feel-good ending all the more earned.
In the film, Mark Wahlberg & Rose Byrne star as Pete and Ellie Wagner, a couple who on a whim decide to adopt a trio of siblings, not realizing how hard it is to rear one child, let alone three. As Pete & Ellie deal with their wild new children, they begin to question if they’ve made the best or worst decision of their lives.
In the following interview with filmmaker Sean Anders, he discusses his own family’s reaction to seeing their lives portrayed on screen, how much of the film actually happened, and learning from his own parent’s child-rearing mistakes. For the full interview, watch above.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE COLLIDER NETWORK
Collider Videos: https://bit.ly/2n1MZb7
Collider Games: https://bit.ly/2vszg0Z
Collider Quick: https://bit.ly/2OyLjSU
Collider Sports: https://bit.ly/2Au5rmv
Collider Podcast Network: https://bit.ly/1qU5ENT
Pro Wrestling Sheet: https://bit.ly/2LKhWzy
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColliderVideo
Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ColliderVideo
Follow us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/colliderdotcom
As the online source for movies, television, breaking news, incisive content, and imminent trends, Collider is more than an essential destination. Visit Collider: http://collider.com