REVIEW: ‘Family Pack’ Is A Lighthearted Family Adventure

Family Pack (Loups-garous) is a French fantasy adventure comedy film from Netflix inspired by the game The Werewolves of Millers Hollow. Directed by François Uzan (Lupin) and written by Hervé Marly and Philippe des Pallières, the film stars Franck Dubosc as Jerome, Jean Reno as Gilbert, Lisa Do Couto Texeira as Clara, Raphael Romand as Theo, Alizée Caugnies as Louise, and Suzanne Clément as Marie.

In Family Pack, a blended family struggling to connect decides to play an old board game from the father and grandfather’s past. Suddenly, the mysterious game transports the family to a medieval French village. Where werewolves are on the loose, causing chaos for the townsfolk every night. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to tell who is a werewolf, which results in the villagers becoming extremely paranoid and sentencing innocent people to death.  Now, the family must try to complete the game and deduce who among them is a werewolf before it is too late.

Performance-wise, the cast creates believable chemistry to enhance their family unit, which is essential for the film since family dynamics and relationships are at its heart. The story tries to balance some heavier issues but does not dive too deeply into its characters’ emotional arcs. It does enough to make the audience stay intrigued and care about them.

For example, the father, Jérôme, struggles to connect with his father, Gilbert, who is losing his memory with age. Gilbert seems to have forgotten many fond memories Jérôme shared with him growing up. Now, Jérôme is scared that it won’t be long before his father loses all his memories and forgets his family, thus straining their relationship.

Their relationship and character arc offer a touching subplot amid the chaos, but it receives little development at the film’s end. The connection between Gilbert’s memory loss and their strained relationship is only fully revealed at the film’s end. It would have been more impactful if the film explored their bond more deeply while Gilbert was still lucid, allowing for a richer exploration of their father-son relationship.

The filmmakers do a great job adapting elements from The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow game into a live-action. In the board game, players take on roles with a special power to win the game. In the film, the family is also assigned powers within the game to help them succeed in defeating the werewolves. This element cleverly allows the filmmakers to weave in a theme of family cooperation, using their newfound abilities to help them reconnect and work together.

For instance, Clara, the eldest daughter, gets the powers of invisibility, but no one can hear her speak, whereas her father can read minds and hear thoughts. With these newfound powers, the father and daughter are forced to communicate better and listen to one another, which ultimately helps them reconnect.

Visually, Family Pack does a decent job creating its medieval village set and costume designs. While the special effects aren’t groundbreaking, the werewolf transformations are impressive, but not all hold the same quality throughout the film. Despite its werewolf-themed adventure, the film keeps the tone light and fun for the most part. There is some violence but nothing too graphic or explicit, making it an ideal movie for families with younger viewers.

Granted, the Family Pack does not try to revolutionize the genre; it delivers a fun and engaging adventure for audiences of most ages. However, older audiences should be prepared to suspend their disbelief and enjoy this film thoroughly. There are a few plotholes, but they do not distract from the film’s overall charm. Stylistically, Family Pack can be compared to Jumanji but is not too heavy on the thrills.  The medieval setting and werewolf antics are exciting in some parts, but overall, the film is more humorous than frightening.

The film follows a straightforward and predictable plot for most of its runtime. However, as the director of Lupin, François Uzan has a reputation for being a master of plot twists. Although Family Pack may not carry the same complex twists as a heist series, it packs some surprises towards the end. Nonetheless, the film offers enough entertainment to keep audiences engaged through its runtime.

Family Pack is a charming, family-friendly film that blends adventure, fantasy, and lightheartedness. Through a light-hearted tone, the film touches on themes of generational disconnect and the desire for reconnection, keeping its humor focused on adventure. With solid performances and a twist at the end, Family Pack is an excellent pick for any family movie night.

Family Pack debuts exclusively on Netflix on October 23.