''Two Is a Family'' (french: Demain tout commence) is a 2016 French

comedy-drama film Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...

of the Mexican film ''

Instructions Not Included ''Instructions Not Included'' (Spanish title: ', literally ''Returns not accepted'') is a 2013 Mexican comedy-drama film co-written, directed by, and starring Eugenio Derbez. The plot follows a Mexican playboy who is suddenly saddled with a love ...

'' (''No se Aceptan Devoluciones''), directed by

Hugo Gélin Hugo Gélin (born 4 May 1980) is a French film director, producer and screenwriter.Vincent JuléHugo Gélin, l’humour en héritage '' Le Parisien'', 30.10.2012 Life and career Hugo Gélin was born to Xavier Gélin on May 4, 1980. His grandpar ...

and starring

Omar Sy Omar Sy (, ff, 𞤌𞤥𞤢𞤪 𞤅𞤭, Omar Si; born 20 January 1978) is a French actor, best known in France for his sketches with Fred Testot on the '' Service après-vente des émissions'' television show on Canal+ (2005–2012). He gaine ...

Plot

Samuel (

), runner, party-goer and womanizer, lives by the sea in the south of France. Unattached, his life changes the day when Kristin (

Clémence Poésy Clémence Guichard (born 30 October 1982), known professionally as Clémence Poésy (), is a French actress and fashion model. After starting on the stage as a child, Poésy studied drama and has been active in both film and television since 19 ...

), a former fling, places his three-month-old daughter Gloria in his arms. Unable to take care of her, he embarks on a trip to London, in order to return Gloria to her mother. He loses track of Kristin, does not have a penny in his pocket and does not speak a word of English. Fortunately, he meets Bernie (

Antoine Bertrand Antoine Bertrand (born September 13, 1977) is a Canadian film and television actor. He is best known for his roles in the television series ''Les Bougon'' and the films ''Louis Cyr'', a role that earned him the Iris Award for Best Actor, and '' S ...

), a gay Frenchman who works in the film industry and offers him a stunt job. Over the next eight years, Samuel raises Gloria and works as a stuntman, with Gloria often accompanying him as he still cannot speak English. Samuel creates an imaginary secret agent mother for Gloria, who corresponds with her on the Internet. During a visit to the doctor, it is revealed that treatments are not working, and the audience is led to believe that Samuel has a terminal illness. One day, when Gloria is eight, her real mother shows up from New York with her boyfriend and a new maternal instinct. Samuel is frustrated with Kristin, who eventually asks to take Gloria back to New York with her. Gloria becomes alienated from her father when she overhears him revealing that he fabricated her mother's backstory. Kristin eventually requests custody of Gloria, and the case is taken to court. Samuel successfully convinces the judge that he has Gloria's best interests at heart, and is awarded custody. However, Kristin then requests a DNA test, which reveals that Samuel is not Gloria's biological father. While losing custody, Samuel escapes with Gloria to his former job in France. While searching for them, Bernie confronts Kristin and reveals that Gloria, in fact, is terminally ill and could die at any time. Bernie and Kristin eventually find them on the beach, where Kristin drops her custody attempts and all four reunite as a family. The film ends with Samuel sitting alone on the beach, implying that Gloria has passed away.

Cast

as Samuel * Gloria Colston as Gloria *

as Kristin Stuart *

as Bernie * Ashley Walters as Lowell *

Clémentine Célarié Clémentine Célarié (born 12 October 1957) is a French actress, writer, director and singer.

as Samantha *

Ruben Alves Ruben Alves (born 9 January 1980) is a French-Portuguese actor, screenwriter, and director. He is best known for '' The Gilded Cage'' which he wrote and directed. Biography Alves was born the son of Portuguese guest workers in Paris. At 20, he ...

had a minor role.

Production

The film was based on the 2012 Mexico comedy-drama film

. It began

principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...

on 21 September 2015 in Southern France before moving to

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. Filming was scheduled to conclude on 10 December 2015.

Reception

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, the film has an approval rating of 38%.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Two Is A Family 2016 films 2016 comedy-drama films 2010s French-language films French comedy-drama films Films directed by Hugo Gélin Films scored by Rob Simonsen Films shot in London French LGBT-related films Remakes of Mexican films Films about stunt performers 2010s French films