The Family Plan 2 is rated PG-13 by the MPA for sequences of violence and action, sexual material, and some strong language.
When “The Family Plan” hit Apple TV+ in December 2023, it became the platform’s most-watched film only to be dethroned a year later by “Wolfs,” another film equally uninspired. And now, riding the coattails of that forgettable success, we have “The Family Plan 2,” a sequel that doubles down on lazy filmmaking, painfully unfunny clichés, and action sequences so bland they barely register. It’s the kind of movie that’s almost impossible to review because it has so little substance; it slips out of your memory while you’re still watching it. There are no laughs. The story is absurdly trivial. The action is, frankly, insulting. It’s such a soulless exercise in production rather than storytelling that even writing about it feels like a chore. Watching it is worse.
Director Simon Cellan Jones reunites with Mark Wahlberg for the third time (“Arthur the King” was awkwardly wedged into what has now become this makeshift franchise) to reprise his role as Dan Morgan. We first met Dan as a seemingly ordinary car salesman in Buffalo, only to discover he had a hidden past as a killer a twist that gave the original film at least some playful edge in the “ordinary dad assassin” genre, evoking echoes of “Nobody” or “True Lies.” Here, that intrigue is gone. Now everyone in Dan’s life knows his former lethal occupation. His father is dead. He’s a security consultant. His biggest problems? His daughter Nina (Zoe Colletti) is studying abroad, and his son Kyle (Van Crosby) would rather stay glued to video games than hang out with the family. His main goal: a quiet, festive holiday together.
Cue the utterly ridiculous plot contrivances. Dan is hired by a London bank to check their security—an assignment that somehow escalates into an international chase, pitting the Morgans against Dan’s estranged half-brother Aidan (Kit Harington). Through logic-defying maneuvers, Aidan convinces Dan to break into the bank, handing the villain access to his deceased father’s assassin network and fortune, while framing the Morgans for the heist. Dan and Jessica (Michelle Monaghan, tragically wasted in a part so thin it begs for Ethan Hunt-level heroics) dash across London and Paris, joined by their kids and Nina’s parkour-obsessed boyfriend Omar (Reda Elazouar). Why parkour? Because the plot demands it. Watching Omar leap across rooftops while Wahlberg supposedly does the same is one of several moments that force you to question just how many years this fifty-something actor has left for stunts.
The action sequences are, unfortunately, at a point where even Liam Neeson-level unconvincing combat looks more believable. And with no genuinely memorable action, the film leans on weak, “protective dad” comedy that lands about as often as a lead balloon. The use of Europe is equally lazy: predictable soundtrack choices (“Tubthumping” in a pub, naturally) and postcard-style tourist shots make the locales feel more like Epcot than Paris or London.
Wahlberg is visibly disengaged, and the children feel like caricatures, though Harington does inject some effort into his role as the estranged, revenge-driven sibling. Unfortunately, no amount of effort can salvage a script so absurdly implausible it borders on parody.
A few examples of the film’s sloppy construction stand out. Dan casually tells his family the code word for an upcoming operation is “abort which, by the way, seems more like a command than a code. Later, a faceless assassin surprises him on a rooftop. A gun is pressed to his face. Cut to Jessica, a gunshot is heard. Cut back assassin dead, Dan unruffled, as if performing some kind of magic trick. Moments like these illustrate how little thought went into connecting plot points with tension, humor, or even logic.
Content Breakdown for Parents
Violence & Intensity: Moderate: Frequent action scenes: fistfights, chases, rooftop pursuits, and gun threats.Violence is stylized and mostly bloodless think TV-friendly spy antics rather than gritty combat.Tone aims for comedic danger, though younger or sensitive kids may find the guns and constant peril stressful.A few scenes imply characters are in life-or-death situations, but nothing graphic is shown.One moment where a character is suddenly shot offscreen may be surprising for some kids.
Language: Mild to Moderate: Occasional mild swear words (e.g., “hell,” “damn”).A few PG-13-level insults during stressful moments.No slurs or heavy profanity.
Sexual Content / Nudity: Very Low: No nudity, No sex scenes.A teen/young-adult couple appears, but their dynamic is kept sweet and PG.One or two lines hint at romance, but the film stays firmly in family territory.
Drugs, Alcohol & Smoking: Low to Moderate: A pub scene includes adults drinking beer. A few background shots involve alcohol (wine glasses, bar settings).No abusive drinking, drugs, or smoking shown.