On paper, The Family Plan sounds like another Mark Wahlberg cash-in financed by Apple. One packed full of cliches, that combines shades of National Lampoon and weirdly lifts from Coen Brothers classic Raising Arizona. However, The Family Plan also turns out to be an enjoyable, engaging, and inventive action comedy. One in which Wahlberg commits – just like he did once upon a time for The Departed, Pain & Gain, and Boogie Nights. Over the course of this tightly scripted romp, written by David Coggeshall, Dan Morgan (Mark Walberg) morphs into a gun-toting ex-assassin, who just happens to be a solid secondhand car salesman.
Michelle Monaghan is along for the ride as Wahlberg’s wife Jessica, and Ciaran Hinds also weighs in as a convincing heavy. On their road trip to Las Vegas, director Simon Cellan Jones captures car chases, shoot outs, and supermarket scuffles – upping the invention at every turn. The teenage slash twenty-something contingent, who make up other members of this family, also feel fully fleshed out. Across the board, this Mark Wahlberg vehicle is full of surprises and comes across with confidence. As this happy family are pursued across America there is a self-assurance that is sadly sorely lacking from Wahlberg’s most recent Netflix collaboration.
The Family Plan has sharper writing, slicker production values, and a more cohesive cast than The Union. Netflix might have thought putting Wahlberg together with Halle Berry was a no-brainer, but they clearly forgot to inject any heart in the project. At least with this Apple original, everyone is in the room, fully engaged, and making this cliched action-comedy fire on all cylinders. This is proof that even the most tried and tested formula can still surprise audiences when fresh inspiration gets thrown at it. The addition of Maggie Q is also welcome, since she comes with a degree of action-based baggage from earlier roles, including the last Die Hard worth watching featuring Timothy Olyphant on villainous duties.
The fact is, there is no way The Family Plan has a right to be this good. It proves that Wahlberg can do comedy without a wingman like Will Ferrell or Seth McFarlane, can land dramatic moments with a degree of flair that feels organic and is simply a good actor. Against all odds, this Apple backed action-comedy sticks the landing, not only making this one of the best Mark Wahlberg movies no one has seen, but also reminds audiences why he was Oscar-nominated.
The Family Plan is available to stream on AppleTV+ now.