Mikes Film Talk

Director Simon Cellan Jones gives us both The Family Plan and The Family Plan 2 (2023/25) and both feature trips, Las Vegas and London respectively. Both films are written by David Coggeshall. The Family Plans are not blazingly original. Chalk and cheese movies are pretty common place.

Ghosted; the most recent, was okay but really nothing to write home about. Other examples are: Knight and Day, Killers, and as far back as 1985, there was Target, starring the late Gene Hackman who also had a secret life. *One could also include Taken, with Liam Neeson with his “particular set of skills.”*

There are, quite possibly, a number of other films with this theme. The above mentioned are just the ones I can remember.

The Family Plan 1 & 2 Story

Both the films basic story are remarkably, or un-remarkably, similar.

The Family Plan: Dad Dan Morgan has his past catch up with him. So he takes his family, who do not know of his assassin background, to Las Vegas. Once there, the entire family is in danger of being “taken out.” *Somewhat unamazingly, Apple iPhone product placement.*

The Family Plan 2:

Family Morgan decide to travel en masse to London, UK to visit their daughter at College for Christmas. Once there, Dan’s past catches up with him; again. His adoptive brother, Finn Clarke decides to take out Dan and become the new leader of their late father’s assassination company. Although I don’t remember seeing any, as both these films are Apple “certified,” there must be some product placement.

The Main Cast

Mark Wahlberg is Dan Morgan.

Michelle Monaghan is Jessica Morgan.

Kit Harington is Finn Clarke.

Zoe Colletti is Nina Morgan.

Van Crosby is Kyle Morgan.

Peter Lindsey and Theodore Lindsey are Max Morgan.

Reda Elazouar is Omar.

Sidse Babett Knudsen is Svetlana Romanova.

Sanjeev Bhaskar is Vikram.

Maggie Q is Gwen (The Family Plan 1.)

Saïd Taghmaoui is Augie. (The Family Plan 1.)

Kick Arse Cameo

Ciarán Hinds is McCaffrey. (The Family Plan 1.)

Let’s Talk Family Plan 1 & 2

These films share a lot. The trips, the revelation of some hidden truth and some excellent action sequences. In the first film, Dan keeps trying to find the right time to reveal he was a world class assassin. The second film sees Jessica trying to find the right time to tell Dan she has a great job offer.

Despite the similarities shared by both, the first time out; that trip to Vegas, scores higher on both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. Although to be fair, RT critics do not really like either 1 or 2. Both IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes dislike, to an extent, the second Morgan trip.

The films both deal with hitherto unknown family members in Dan’s side of the family. 1 it was his father, in 2 it is his “brother.” The biggest issue, per se, is the action sequences in the films. 2 has the double decker bus fight, short but fun. 2 also lacks the spectacle of the first film’s dual action scenes around the “Posesiden” casino.

Both Work

Taken in the spirit in which they were made, the films both work. As long as audiences are:

• A: Marky Mark fans.
• B: Aware that neither of these films are Shakespeare.
• C: Each movie is meant to be a jolly romp devoid of reality.

All the above mentioned “facts” make the films pretty enjoyable. For instance; I myself am not a huge Wahlberg fan. To me he is just okay it depends on the film. For example, I got a big kick out of Ted. *On the opposite side of the same coin? Ted 2 sucked, in my honest opinion.*

The Verdicts

The Family Plan (2023) earns a 4 star out of 5 ranking. As this was the first effort it felt that little bit more original. *Only if one takes similar films out of one’s mindset.* The Family Plan 2, despite its UK setting and brief visit to Paris, feels too much like an “also ran.” Apple clearly feel that the first outing was worth a second. Due to that “been there, done this” feeling 2 earns a paltry 3 stars.

Both films are available to stream via Apple TV and Apple TV +.

The Trailers