This romantic comedy starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron perhaps lacks a strong script but it is still surprisingly endearing.
It seems that age gap relationships are all the range for romantic comedies at the moment, not only The Idea of You but also with Netflix’s A Family Affair which while starts a little bit weakly script wise, soon develops into something endearing.
A Family Affair begins with Zara, who works as movie star Chris’s assistant – feeling fed up with his selfish attitude and his reluctance to give her a bigger role in his company as well as the way in which he relies on her to buy earrings to give to his unsuspecting girlfriends when he wants to break up with them. But things then take a twist when he meets her mum, famous writer Brooke who helps unlock a more sensitive side to him and they enter a relationship.
While perhaps the script isn’t quite as mature as it should be when it first starts, the film actually does develop quite well when it examines Brooke and Zara’s mother and daughter relationship as well as the way in which Brooke and Chris are able to relate to each other in terms of losing loved ones. It all feels cosy and suitably romantic comedy like (the argument between Chris and Zara at his house once she reaches breaking point is particularly funny) with a great chemistry between all of the characters.
Of course, there is some slightly predictable moments particularly in terms of the break up and where the characters end up but it does make you think about seeing people beyond their ‘assigned’ roles – whether that is a mother, movie star or assistant.
In the second half of the film, where it leans into a bit more drama as relationships become slightly more fractious it changes the vibe of the film to allow each of the actors to delve deeper into their characters and make them seem a little less superficial. The whole film has a relaxed ‘take me as I am’ vibe that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy.
The casting feels spot on as the film develops. Zac Efron as Chris clearly having fun as the somewhat selfish actor (but of course his charm means that the selfishness of the character is short lived) and his chemistry with Nicole Kidman’s Brooke feels believable and natural. Joey King as Zara gives a great performance as she is torn at frustration about her mother’s relationship with her boss while uncertain what life holds for her. There are moments in which she comes across as brattish and oddly enough as selfish as her boss – but she is still likeable in her sometime goofy behaviour as well – a difficult balance to get right. Nicole Kidman as Brooke comes across as relaxed and warm – her character undergoes the biggest transformation as she blossoms and comes back out of her shell in the wake of her husband’s death.
As mentioned, the script takes a little time to get going and it was concern that A Family Affair is going to be superficial but as it settles down it is heartwarming and filled with more complexity emotionally than you would expect.
Overall though the film gets the comedy, romance and hint of drama just right to make for an easygoing and entertaining watch.
By Emma Clarendon
A Family Affair is available to watch on Netflix now.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐