A Family Affair Review
A Family Affair (2024) Film Review, a movie directed by Richard LaGravenese, written by Carrie Solomon and starring Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Kathy Bates, Liza Koshy, Wes Jetton, Ian Gregg, Sarah Baskin, Zele Avradopoulos, Vince Pisani, Sherry Cola, Olivia Macklin, Vee Bhakta, Maxel Amador, Seoum Tylor Aun, Gissette Valentin and Brooks Ashmanskas.
Richard LaGravenese made one of 1998’s most under-appreciated films, Living Out Loud. It starred Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito and was a smart examination of life after love. So, when Cher’s song lyrics, “Do You Believe in Life After Love?” come up on the soundtrack early in LaGravenese’s new film, A Family Affair, I appreciated that the director was possibly playing homage to territory he has explored before in his previous work. This new Netflix movie is about a movie star named Chris Cole (Zac Efron) who falls in love with his assistant, Zara (Joey King)’s mom, Brooke (Nicole Kidman). While Brooke is at least a decade and a half older than Chris, most of us have seen this year’s The Idea of You so we just run with the premise. Despite a promising beginning, though, the film sinks into more familiar territory than was expected. It is still an entertaining take on dating with a big age difference.
Joey King’s Zara is one of the most enjoyable aspects of A Family Affair. She has spontaneity and unpredictability as she climbs into Chris’s mansion at one point to quit her job early on in the picture. Chris is going to end up firing her anyway even though she’s a really good assistant. When Chris breaks up with his latest girlfriend at a restaurant, Zara runs to bring him a set of earrings to give the young woman he is sending on her way. Zara is dedicated and creative but, for whatever reason, she clashes with Chris which makes their bond a shaky one.
The movie picks up steam when Chris ends up in bed with Brooke, Zara’s mom, and Zara catches them fooling around. Zara is disgusted, of course. After all, Brooke is her mom, but Chris ends up really getting to connect with Brooke in a relationship that probably could only happen in a romantic comedy like this one. Zara wants them to break up but the undeniable chemistry that Brooke and Chris have will make it rather difficult for them to stay apart so Zara learns to accept the relationship until she suspects Chris may want to break up with Brooke when Zara finds a set of earrings in his suitcase.
The supporting cast is heavy with talent but their roles aren’t the best work of these co-stars’ careers. Kathy Bates fares best as Zara’s grandmother, Leila, who is always supportive when she needs to be. Bates has fun in a role she could have done in her sleep. As Zara’s friends, Liza Koshy and the always funny Sherry Cola get some moments to excel in parts that are ultimately underwritten. Koshy fares somewhat better and is particularly good in a scene where Zara shows up with junk food in order to “make up” with Koshy’s character, Eugenie, after a fight. Zara is a bit self-centered and has to prove she values her friendship with Eugenie.
Zac Efron is certainly believable as a movie star who plays a superhero in his most popular role. Chris doesn’t always treat Zara the way he should but both King and Efron share some good scenes together as these characters start to get honest with one another and Zara starts to see that maybe Brooke could be a good match for him. Is she, though? The odds are pretty good and that’s all I’ll say in that particular regard.
Nicole Kidman, with light blonde hair here, has been better in other roles. Much better. However, there’s a likability factor that she brings to her character that makes her believable. Besides her bright and shiny hair, Kidman’s presence in this film makes for one of her least showy roles to date. She’s still a pleasure to watch.
Joey King creates her character in a fashion that will keep audiences watching Zara and admiring her. King’s turn is heartfelt and she carries much of the movie whenever the lovers aren’t on-screen. LaGravenese could probably do this movie in his sleep, though. He’s always been one of the best writers of films from the 1990’s and worked on The Fisher King and The Bridges of Madison County as well as also directing the previously mentioned, Living Out Loud. A Family Affair is humorous and touching but treads on very familiar ground.
While the ending set in a supermarket feels like it has been done before, A Family Affair offers some warm laughs and intriguing drama throughout its story line. One of the movie’s best scenes is between Kidman and King as Zara admits she’s done more wrong in her life than Chris has. Zara urges her mom to give Chris another chance. If you don’t know whether or not she will, then you’ll definitely enjoy A Family Affair much more than those who have seen one too many romantic comedy movies from the past few years.
Rating: 6.5/10
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