‘The Family Plan 2’ Review: Mark Wahlberg’s Action Sequel Is Likable Enough

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Despite their best efforts, the Morgan family – who happen to be skilled assassins – find themselves embroiled in another dangerous adventure during a Christmas vacation in The Family Plan 2. This sequel isn’t groundbreaking, but it continues the lighthearted, action-comedy story with a charming cast. While the plot has some major gaps and the danger feels unreal, the movie is consistently enjoyable. It offers enough laughs, a few unexpected moments, and exciting chase sequences to make it a decent choice for a casual watch.

The movie continues the story from The Family Plan, two years later, in Buffalo, New York. Dan (Mark Wahlberg) and Jessica (Michelle Monaghan) are enjoying a night out when their babysitter, 18-year-old Kyle (Van Crosby), struggles to manage his younger brother, Max (played by twins Peter and Theodore Lindsey). They rush home, but Jessica doesn’t tell Dan about a big opportunity at work. The next day, the whole family heads to Jessica’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving. During a video call with their oldest daughter, Nina (Zoe Colletti), who’s studying in London, they jokingly reference Dan’s secret past.

Dan is deeply affected by Nina’s absence, as the Morgans always celebrate Christmas together as a family. Now the owner of a thriving security firm, Dan takes a job evaluating a London bank, hoping to fund a surprise trip to visit Nina. The family is shocked to discover Nina living with her new boyfriend, Omar. Though Dan disapproves, he holds back from confronting the situation due to his work commitments. While meeting his contact at the bank (Kit Harington), Dan quickly realizes he’s stumbled into a dangerous situation – one connected to the past crimes of his father (Ciarán Hinds).

I have to say, watching this felt…comfortable. Director Simon Cellan Jones and Mark Wahlberg are clearly in a groove – this is their third film together, and it shows. They’ve settled into a very predictable, almost lighthearted rhythm. The characters banter, sure, but there’s never any real weight to their conflicts. You can practically see the plot points coming a mile away – Dan will eventually accept Omar’s relationship, the Morgan family will escape every danger unscathed. It’s all very safe. The film gestures at stakes, at danger, but never actually delivers on them. There’s no grit, no real consequences. And honestly, that feels intentional. Jones and Wahlberg aren’t trying to shock or surprise you; they’re aiming for a reliably upbeat experience, and they absolutely achieve that.


Apple TV

The Family Plan 2 emphasizes the importance of family values and strong relationships. The film delves into Dan’s past, revealing a difficult childhood and the reasons he chose to distance himself from his criminal father in order to build a stable family life. We quickly learn that the person seeking revenge against Dan has a valid reason for doing so, and Dan understands this, but he’s determined to protect his wife and children at all costs. However, his family isn’t helpless – they actively step up to defend him when he’s in danger. The Morgans work well as a team and demonstrate their resilience under pressure. While the way they come together is a bit cheesy, it’s ultimately the most heartwarming part of the movie.

The beginning of the movie feels a bit forced, with the plot relying on unlikely coincidences to move forward. For instance, the Morgans’ trip to London to see Nina conveniently coincides with a bank job that funds it. It doesn’t make sense that the villain knew Dan would fall for their trap – it just happened by chance that the family visited Nina and then got into trouble. These kinds of convenient plot devices happen again and again. While The Family Plan 2 doesn’t always make logical sense, it’s easy to overlook the flaws because the characters are lovable and humorous, and the actors have great chemistry together, which helps to compensate for the weak plot points.


Apple TV

The movie features the expected fight scenes and gun battles, but the character Omar brings something new with his impressive parkour skills. He and Dan race across rooftops during a fast-paced finale, and the director builds up Omar’s abilities before showcasing them with dynamic camera work – it’s a really exciting sequence that gives the film a boost of energy. While The Family Plan 2 finishes on a positive and fun note, it doesn’t really feel like it needs a sequel.

The Family Plan 2 premieres November 21, exclusively on Apple TV+.

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2025-11-21 19:18