Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Jul 26, 2024
Are Rom-Coms making a comeback? Netflix’s latest film, ‘A Family Affair,’ certainly suggests so with its charming blend of humor, love, and emotion. This delightful 1-hour and 54-minute romantic comedy delves into the intricacies of relationships, friendships, and workplace dynamics, offering a heartwarming experience for viewers. ‘A Family Affair’ is packed with a star-studded cast, including Zac Efron as Chris Cole, Joey King as Zara, Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, Kathy Bates as Leila Ford, and Liza Koshy as Eugenie.
Summary
The movie begins with Zara at her wit’s end, dealing with her self-entitled and high-demanding boss, Chris Cole, an arrogant movie star from an action-fantasy franchise. In a restaurant, Chris is preparing to break up with yet another girlfriend, who is anticipating a marriage proposal. The scene cleverly sets up this expectation. As a parting gesture, Chris always gives his exes the same pair of diamond earrings to ease the tension and their heartache. Unfortunately, this time he doesn’t have the earrings on him; they’re in Zara’s bag, and she’s stuck in Los Angeles traffic. After a threatening phone call from her boss, she races through traffic to deliver the earrings so Chris can continue with his usual breakup routine. Once the delivery is made, Zara drives Chris home. During the drive, he sings along to Cher’s “I Believe in Love,” while Zara, visibly annoyed, rolls her eyes. This scene perfectly sets up their dynamic, giving audiences a glimpse into Chris and Zara’s chaotic yet close boss-assistant relationship.
Further into the storyline, Chris becomes frustrated with Zara for being late to his house in the morning. She had been running multiple errands while also trying to find a new writer for his movie script. An argument occurs, leading to Zara quitting, only for Chris to fire her immediately afterward—yes, in that order. Realizing he needs her, Chris eventually comes to his senses and goes to Zara’s house, which she shares with her mother, Brooke Harwood. Brooke doesn’t hear Chris ringing the doorbell because she’s cleaning her bookshelves with music blasting throughout the house, so he just walks right in. (The ever-unlocked front door in television and film is one of those suspension-of-disbelief moments. Don’t question it… just go with the flow.) After confirming he isn’t a burglar, Brooke lets Chris get comfortable, and they start talking on the couch. They toast with some alcohol, get close and touchy, and one thing leads to another.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that at this moment, Zara comes home and catches her mother and ex-boss in her widowed mother’s bed. This shocking discovery ends with Zara freaking out and accidentally running into a wall. After a visit to the doctor, the storyline shifts to Zara learning to be okay with her mother putting herself and her happiness first, rather than revolving her life around 24-year-old Zara’s needs.
While this film has received mixed reviews, some viewers enjoyed the cringy, comedic slow-burning romance between Chris and Brooke. The scenes where they get to know each other, with Brooke opening up about her late husband and her nervousness about loving again, and Chris sharing his family history and limited experience with true love, are particularly engaging. On their first date, Brooke meets Chris for a private dinner, where they grow closer and decide they want to continue pursuing each other despite Zara’s objections. Chris asks if she’d like to go for a walk, to which she responds, “Where do you walk in LA?” “New York!” he shares excitedly. He then takes her to New York Street on his work’s soundstage, and they enjoy the rest of their night together. These moments help the audience better understand the characters and why they are the way they are. The chemistry between the two comes naturally, as this isn’t their first time playing love interests. Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman previously starred as Jack Jansen and Charlotte Bless in the 2012 film ‘The Paperboy’.
At times, their love story grew a bit repetitive, but other plotlines kept audiences intrigued. Another important aspect of their relationship was how it affected Zara. Joey King does an exceptional job of portraying a range of emotions as she struggles to come to terms with the idea of her mother being intimate with her boss. This concept is entertaining as we see her constantly complaining to her best friend, Eugenie, catching the two sneaking around, trying to break up the relationship, and more. Beyond the romance and humor, the movie conveys valuable messages: being accepting of others expanding beyond the roles they’ve occupied in your life, learning to listen and be there for others just as they show up for you, and seeing yourself as more than just your job (or sport, life situation, etc.).
In terms of romance, ‘A Family Affair’ isn’t the most tear-jerking love story you might hope for. If you’re expecting a deep, passionate romance, this film won’t deliver that, but the acting is great, and the chemistry between Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman is evident. Similar to ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, the comedy in the film works well, with plenty of quick jokes that are sure to make you chuckle. There are different levels to the romantic comedy genre, ranging from “Aww, they’re cute.” to needing a box of Kleenex and a hug. Despite the range in this genre, there’s almost always something heartwarming and enjoyable to find in these films. I do have to say though, that the chemistry between between Zara and Chris is slightly more intriguing than Brooke and Chris.
‘A Family Affair’ was directed by Richard LaGravenese, known for his work on ‘Freedom Writers’ and ‘The Fisher King’. Written by Carrie Solomon and produced by Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum, the film was released on June 28, 2024, and currently holds a 37% rating on the Rotten Tomatometer. Viewers have referred to the film as “ludicrously bad,” with TV/film critic Wenlei Ma commenting, “The movie is what it is. It’s not going to blow your mind, change your perspective on life, or inspire you to rewatch it. But in the moment? It’s fine.” You can enjoy ‘A Family Affair’ for yourself, now on Netflix.
Cast: Zac Efron, Joey King, Nicole Kidman, Kathy Bates, and Liza Koshy | Director: Richard LaGravenese | Writer: Carrie Solomon | Producers: Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum
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Kaili Spooner's passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider's values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
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