Instant Family

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ANDY’S RATING: ★★★★ In cinemas on Thursday

SUGAR and spice are nicely balanced in this funny and touching comedy drama.

Mark Wahlberg and writer-director Sean Anders worked together on both Daddy’s Home movies but this is a far more grown-up film about the trials and tribulations of parenting.

Based on Anders’ experiences, it tells the heart-warming story of a well-meaning couple who decide to be foster parents.

Pete and Ellie (Wahlberg and Rose Byrne) have spent most of their married life renovating neglected houses.

Now approaching middle-age, they decide they are equipped to perform a similar feat with a troubled child.

Pete has another reason to adopt. He doesn’t want to be an old dad and thinks adopting a five-year-old will steal him back a few years.

Then they hear depressing statistics about adopted teenagers and decide to take on a bigger challenge.

The agency, run by a very funny Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro, doesn’t like to split up siblings.

If they want to take in mouthy 14-yearold Lizzie (Isabela Moner) they will also have to take her accident-prone younger brother Juan (Gustavo Quiroz) and the foul-mouthed little Lita (Julianna Gamiz).

The film mixes laughs with a gritty look at the issues facing neglected kids.

Wahlberg and Byrne are great but Moner delivers a star-in-the making performance as tough but vulnerable Lizzie.