The Family Plan

On the surface, Dan (Mark Wahlberg) is the perfect family man, living his suburban dream with his stable job and beautiful family. But all isn’t as it seems. Unbeknown to his wife and children, Dan was an elite assassin in a previous life and when enemies from his past track him down, he must whisk his loved ones away on an impromptu cross-country road trip to Las Vegas to keep them safe, all the while fending off deadly attacks.

Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan anchor this Apple TV+ project firmly to the ground as it decides whether to be an action-adventure movie or a family-orientated coming-of-age rom-com. At its core, it fits all of those descriptions and thankfully the amalgamation of these genres still results in a straight-shooting movie that the viewer can follow and enjoy. The premise itself presents little new to the imagination, but nonetheless, the concept of James Bond confined to the inside of the family vehicle being pursued by villains provides an entertaining spectacle.

The Family Plan is the only film Wahlberg is starring in this year and he takes the opportunity with both hands as the retired hitman, showing off his physical agility, softer side and of course his comedic acting. Monaghan also proves to be one of the feature’s shining stars, kicking ass almost as much as her on-screen husband and delivering some of the best lines of humour. Screenwriter David Coggeshall has also allowed time for character growth from the pair’s children, Nina (Zoe Margaret Colletti) and Kyle (Van Crosby), representing a new generation of kids as the Gen Z cohort begins to invade high schools and beyond with passing time. A number of younger viewers will particularly be able to relate to Kyle, an introvert in real social spaces, yet a powerhouse in the world of gaming and streaming.

Director Simon Cellan Jones comes straight from the set of The Diplomat into this project, injecting every scene with a taste of his past works including Jessica Jones and Shooter. The storyline flows in one single direction as the family travel from Buffalo to Las Vegas, before being catapulted with a trebuchet into several murderous and explosive action sequences. It is at the point that the movie could be lost in a sea of inexplicable warfare, but this is where cinematographer Michael Burgess comes into his own. There is never a dull moment as the gun fire starts and bodies begin piling up with each sequence beautifully crafted but both Cellan Jones and Burgess.

Just before the credits roll, the movie, as expected, wraps up a little too neatly and this is a running theme through its two-hour duration. For all its action and drama, a sense of jeopardy is severely lacking in The Family Plan and is what prevents this latest Wahlberg movie from elevating to the next level, especially when it is given a 12 rating. It certainly doesn’t make for bad viewing, but the unoriginality of this road trip’s destination leaves the handbrake slightly up.

Guy Lambert

The Family Plan is released on Apple TV+ on 15^th December 2023.

Watch the trailer for The Family Plan here: