The screenplay - by Anders and John Morris - isn't great. Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne decide to adopt and get three siblings, the eldest of which is the strong-spirited Isabela Merced (who was also in Rosaline and the not well-rated Cuban reboot of Father of the Bride in 2022). It could have been much meatier and more serious but is let down by an inclination towards silliness, e.g. 'support' group who just laugh at the couple's progress. Why have a dog in the cast if you're not going to use it somehow? And bringing in the Joan Cusack character right at the ned -- why? Courtroom ending will induce vomiting.
Margo Martindale brings some oomph as a no-nonsense grandmother. Whilst Julie Hagerty's maternal grandmother is just wet. Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro (The Morning Show) are the adoption counsellors.
Anders was one of several writers of the rather more successful We're the Millers in 2013 but otherwise seems to specialise in dumb films and sequels.
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