Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family comedy has lots of violence, language, innuendo.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Family Plan
What's the Story?
Dan Morgan (Mark Wahlberg) is a content father of three living in the suburbs of Buffalo in THE FAMILY PLAN. His wife (Michelle Monaghan) and kids -- teen son Kyle (Van Crosby), teen daughter Nina (Zoe Margaret Colletti), and baby Max (Iliana and Vienna Norris) -- tease him for being a bit of a bore because he never wants to travel and eschews all technology. Turns out, that's because he's in hiding from former associates, like McCaffrey (Ciarán Hinds), from his younger life as a paid assassin. When McCaffrey discovers his whereabouts and sicks dozens of killers on the Morgan family, Dan packs them up and heads to Vegas on the run.
Is It Any Good?
This family-oriented comedy-adventure is best when the humor balances the action, but when it descends into more graphic violence, it loses what makes it original and limits its age appeal. Wahlberg and Monahan make a great couple in The Family Plan, and the schtick of Wahlberg as a "suburban schlub" works. Highlights include scenes like Wahlberg fast-motion changing a diaper, fist-fighting a bad guy with his baby strapped in a front pack, and outrunning a group of motorcyclists while his family sleeps in the car (his wife's noise-blocking headphones blasting that most relaxing of crooners -- Enya).
The script also crafts believable backstories for the bored wife, the teen daughter overly influenced by a bad boyfriend, and the teen son with a killer online gaming profile. When Dan throws their smartphones out the window, they're forced to face each other and connect again. Watching this transformation could feel realistic -- and maybe optimistic -- for parents today. But just when you're caught up in these characters' stories, the film changes tone to a darker, more violent actioner where personalities and story take a back seat to gun battles and knife fights. Things come back around at the end, but lightening up the brutality of the third act would have improved this film as a whole.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters in the Morgan family in The Family Plan. Did the characters and their family dynamics seem realistic at all to you? Were they meant to?
Why did the family hate Trevor? What does he represent?
How does this film handle violence? Do you think it ever goes too far? Why or why not?
The family seems to reconnect when they throw out their smartphones and screens. Have you ever gone on a "technology fast?" What happened? What do you think are the benefits or disadvantages of this?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : December 15, 2023
- Cast : Mark Wahlberg , Michelle Monaghan , Ciaran Hinds
- Director : Simon Cellan Jones
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Apple TV / Apple Original Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School )
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of violence and action, sexual material and some strong language
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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