Mark Wahlberg Stars in “The Family Plan”: A Comedy Thriller
The new action-packed comedy thriller “The Family Plan” starring Mark Wahlberg has a familiar premise – a seemingly ordinary family man with a clandestine identity hiding a violent past. This storyline has been seen before in movies like “True Lies” and “A History of Violence,” but “Family Plan” takes a lighthearted approach, using deception and unraveling as a springboard for screwball comedy.
The film follows Wahlberg’s character, Dan, a former hitman using an alias, as he takes his unsuspecting family on a cross-country road trip to evade approaching assassins who have exposed his secret. The chaotic journey, which includes Dan’s wife and bickering teenage children, is filled with high-speed getaways and shootouts, making for an action-filled picaresque.
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones, “The Family Plan” is realized with charm and enthusiasm, maintaining a good handle on the comic-thriller tone. The action is shot with wit and creativity, integrating the everyday items of fatherhood into the “John Wick” style fight scenes, including a whisper-quiet car chase set to Enya’s “Only Time” and some grocery store kung fu involving an infant.
Wahlberg’s charismatic performance and chemistry with co-star Michelle Monaghan ground the domestic aspect of the film, even as the assassin storyline gets a bit over the top. Ciaran Hinds also shines as the villain, adding to the overall enjoyment of the film.
“The Family Plan” offers a blend of comedy, action, and family dynamics, making it an entertaining watch for audiences. It is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 1 hour and 58 minutes, available to watch on Apple TV+.
While this storyline of a family man with a hidden violent past is not new, “The Family Plan” puts a fresh spin on it with humor and action, making for an enjoyable movie experience.
