The Family Plan 2 Review: I’ll be honest… I didn’t walk into The Family Plan 2 expecting a masterpiece. The first film was one of those “watch it once, forget it tomorrow” kind of streaming releases, and the fact that this became one of Apple TV’s most-watched movies still blows my mind. But since Wahlberg decided to put the Santa hat on again, I figured: alright, let’s see what he’s cooked up this time.
The sequel is a little better. But that’s like saying watered-down coffee is better than no coffee. Technically true, but it’s not changing your life. Let me walk you through what actually happens here.
My Rating: 2.5/5
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | The Family Plan 2 |
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Holiday |
| Release Date | November 21, 2025 |
| Platform | Apple TV+ |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 46 minutes |
| Director | Simon Cellan Jones |
| Main Cast | Mark Wahlberg (Dan), Michelle Monaghan (Jessica), Zoe Colletti (Nina), Van Crosby (Kyle), Kit Harington (Aidan/Finn), Reda Elazouar (Omar) |
My Take After Watching The Family Plan 2
Two years have passed since the first movie, and now the entire Morgan family knows Dan used to be a mercenary. Which already kills the only fun angle the first movie had, the whole “dad has a secret double life” thing.
This time, the movie throws the family into London during Christmas, and honestly, the first act isn’t half bad. The holiday vibe works. There’s something cozy about watching a dad panic because his college daughter doesn’t want to come home for Christmas.
But then the plot kicks in… and yeah, it basically turns into a sitcom with a slightly bigger budget.
Wahlberg still plays Dan like a man whose blood pressure spikes every time a teenager says something dumb. Michelle Monaghan gets more to do this time, which I actually enjoyed. Their chemistry feels warmer, less forced.
The new villain? Kit Harington as Aidan, the jealous half-brother with a classic “you stole the life I deserved” complex. To his credit, he’s actually one of the better parts of the movie. There’s a scene where he and Wahlberg fight on a double-decker bus, and instead of giving us up-close punches, the camera decides to film it from across the street like a CCTV clip. I don’t know who approved that shot, but it killed the entire moment.
And don’t get me started on the jokes. If you cringed at the ‘90s pop-song car scene in the first film, guess what, they brought it back. Twice.
The movie keeps leaning on the same “parents embarrassing kids” humor, and after a while, it just stops being cute. Omar, the daughter’s boyfriend, calling Wahlberg “daddy”? Yeah… that joke lasts about 15 seconds before it gets old.
Where The Family Plan 2 Actually Works
The Christmas atmosphere honestly saves the first chunk of this movie. It’s warm, familiar, cozy, something you can throw on while decorating your tree and not feel cheated.
And Wahlberg + Monaghan? Still charming. There are scenes where you genuinely feel like you’re watching a real married couple deal with chaos. Kit Harington? Solid villain. Not great, but he brings something. The action? Better than the first film, but still not memorable.
Where The Family Plan 2 Falls Flat
By the time the movie hits its midpoint, it starts dragging. The jokes feel recycled. The family dynamics feel predictable. The plot beats might as well have neon signs over them saying, “You already know what happens next.”
It’s the kind of movie where you can guess the twist before the characters even get in the room. And to be brutally honest, it plays things way too safe. For a movie about ex-mercenaries, the action feels sanitized, like they didn’t want to scare the kids watching it in the living room.
Also Read: Sisu 2 Review – The Crazy Action Film We Needed This Year
Good & Bad in The Family Plan 2
| What Worked | What Didn’t Work |
|---|---|
| Warm Christmas vibe | Recycled jokes from the first movie |
| Wahlberg & Monaghan’s chemistry | Predictable story beats |
| Kit Harington as a decent villain | Action scenes shot too safely |
| Some fun family moments | The Middle act drags hard |
| London holiday setting | Omar’s subplot gets annoying fast |
My Rating on The Family Plan 2
⭐ 2.5 / 5
It’s not terrible. It’s not great. It’s just… there. The kind of movie you put on when you don’t want to think.
