Mark Wahlberg, known for his comic and action prowess, steps into the family man turned assassin role in "The Family Plan." This subgenre, exemplified by classics like "True Lies" and the lesser-known "Nobody," often intrigues with its blend of espionage and suburban life. Unfortunately, "The Family Plan" fails to hit the mark that its predecessors so effectively achieved.
In the film, Wahlberg portrays Dan Morgan, a stereotypical suburban dad working in car sales, who has a fondness for routine – taco Wednesdays and scheduled intimacy with his wife, Jessica (Michelle Monaghan), on Thursdays. His typical family life includes teenage dilemmas: daughter Nina (Zoe Colletti) wanting to switch universities for a boy and son Kyle (Van Crosby) secretly playing forbidden video games. There's also a baby in the mix, primarily used for comic relief.
The plot takes a turn when Dan's past as a hired assassin, working for the enigmatic McCaffrey (Ciaran Hinds), comes back to haunt him. This revelation leads to a series of improbable and over-the-top action sequences, starting with a grocery store fight where Dan battles an assassin with his baby strapped to his chest. This scene epitomizes the film's reliance on absurd situations rather than genuine humor or exciting action.
Forced to flee, Dan contacts his old associate Augie (Said Taghmaoui) and takes his family on a road trip from Buffalo to Las Vegas, where the intention is to start anew and reveal his secret past to Jessica. The journey is punctuated by contrived scenarios, including a family sing-along to “Ice, Ice Baby,” rather than any meaningful character development or humor.
Upon reaching Vegas, the plot spirals further into incredulity. Dan's decision to leave his children, baby included, in a hotel room for a dinner date with Jessica is bewildering, to say the least. Eventually, the truth is revealed in a typical showdown with McCaffrey, but not before subjecting the audience to bizarrely violent and unsettling scenes.
Wahlberg's casting as Dan is fitting, considering his capacity to blend a fatherly persona with the skills of a former assassin. Monaghan also delivers as Jessica, a housewife yearning for the spontaneity of her younger days. Zoe Colletti shines in her role as the daughter, and Maggie Q makes the most of her limited role as Jessica’s deceptively friendly acquaintance.
However, the talent of the cast is overshadowed by a script that fails to provide engaging material and a director who struggles to merge family comedy and spy thriller elements. The movie concludes with jarringly violent scenes, leaving the viewer with a sense of confusion about the film's intended genre – a family comedy, an action thriller, or a mishmash of both.
Ultimately, "The Family Plan" misses an opportunity to deliver a compelling blend of everyday family life and high-stakes espionage, resulting in a film that falls short of its potential.
