Overview
A playboy's life takes an unexpected turn when fatherhood forces him to grow up and face the consequences of his past.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- sentimental
- family movie night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics found the film intermittently amusing and emotionally effective through the chemistry between Eugenio Derbez and Loreto Peralta, but considered it overlong and uneven.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Valentín unexpectedly raises Maggie after Julie leaves the baby at his doorstep, transforming bachelor life into committed parenting.
Maggie coaches Valentín on his stunt work while his caregiving helps her grow, making their relationship unusually collaborative.
Valentín leaves Acapulco for Los Angeles and builds a new family and career across national and cultural boundaries.
Julie’s return after six years creates a direct threat to Valentín’s role and to Maggie’s established home.
Films like Instructions Not Included, and why
The Pursuit of Happyness
Shared single-parent family drama, broad comedy, and emotionally manipulative but affectionate father daughter bond.
Three Men and a Baby
Shared fish out of water parenting premise, warm comedy drama, and an initially irresponsible adult growing into caregiving.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Shared cross-cultural family tension, custody conflict, and a sentimental parent child relationship balancing humor with tears.
We Are the Nobles
Shared Mexican comedy drama sensibility, class mobility, family pressure, and ensemble humor with sentimental stakes.
Movie Details
- Director
- Eugenio Derbez
- Release Date
- 2013-07-20
- Runtime
- 122 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (977)
Cast
- Eugenio Derbez
- Loreto Peralta
- Jessica Lindsey
- Daniel Raymont
- Hugo Stiglitz
- Arcelia Ramírez
- Agustín Bernal
- Karla Souza
- Roger Cudney
- Ari Brickman
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Instructions Not Included about?
- An irresponsible Acapulco bachelor becomes a devoted father and stuntman when an abandoned baby transforms his life into an unconventional family adventure.
- What is Instructions Not Included like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Instructions Not Included as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Instructions Not Included violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Instructions Not Included as mild.
- What did critics think of Instructions Not Included?
- Critics found the film intermittently amusing and emotionally effective through the chemistry between Eugenio Derbez and Loreto Peralta, but considered it overlong and uneven.
- Which films are like Instructions Not Included?
- Films with a similar feel include The Pursuit of Happyness, Three Men and a Baby, Mrs. Doubtfire, and We Are the Nobles.
- How long is Instructions Not Included?
- Instructions Not Included runs 122 minutes.
- Where can I watch Instructions Not Included?
- In United States, Instructions Not Included streams on Amazon Prime Video, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
