A Family Affair

Romantic movies are great - when they work. Both Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman are also fine actors - when they have good materials to work with.

Unfortunately, this movie doesn't work for me. The premise is ok - it's par for the course for romantic movies, and having a big age difference isn't a problem - it can actually be done well: think, "Harold and Maud".

The issue is that I didn't really sense great chemistry between the two characters. The setup just didn't land. Everything seemed forced to go along with what the plot requires. I think a different script could have made a big difference.

Which is ironic, given a plot of the movie.

"A Family Affair" is simply not funny nor romantic. Joey KIng's character just comes across as bitter and hateful, rather than being a humorous obstacle to Efron's and Kidman's characters that she really needed to be.

I am a bit of a sucker for films that don't require much thought. I love romances and I am all for something light-hearted.

There is no chemistry between Kidman and Efron. Their interactions are uncomfortable and unbelieveable. Kidman is a great actress but this was not the right film for her talents.

I didn't mind the concept or the scrips and I could have happily watched this film multiple times if casting had worked better. Chemistry is so vital.

Joey King is good as is Kathy Bates but that is it.

If you want an age difference romance with leads that are credible and naturally pleasing I recommend The Idea of You with Anne Hathaway and Nicolas Galitzine - chemistry that is believable.

Seriously, this would have been such a great film. The ONLY thing that saved this film is Joey King and Kathy Bates.

Nicole looks like a stone-faced unhuman and I think it's amazingly sad that so many beautiful women think they look younger and/or better with cosmetic surgery when in fact, we obviously notice and they never look better. Her hair color was horrid, her black eyebrows such a contrast that I couldn't stop looking at her instead of be involved in the movie! Zac looks like his face was frozen as well. It was very hard to continue watching it.....and again, if not for the amazing performance from Joey King, I probably would have turned it off. Kudos to her and Bates.

It's a standardized, stale romance that pales in comparison to the recent "The Idea of You" which had a lot more charm, even when that movie wasn't amazing. But it felt a lot cuter than this one and Anne Hathaway made it a lot more believable.

In "A Family Affair" though, the chemistry is visible in the faces of the two main actors instead of between them. That only furthers the artificiality of it all.

The plot evolves in a predictable way, on the acting side there are no standouts and it's directed without much flair. It's astonishing that all the prominent names behind and before the camera agreed to make such a nothing of a movie.

I love rom coms and enjoyed this light fun one on a Sunday morning having breakfast in bed.

Great acting from Kathy Bates and Joey King.

Horrific surgery from Nicole and Zac led to this being hard to watch. Nicole can't express with that face anymore. The chemistry between them was non existent.

I enjoyed the premise and we had a few laughs but I'm glad we didn't go to the cinema and drop coin on this movie.

Husband and I came straight to the reviews to see if everyone agreed with us and they do.

Please cast Kidman opposite someone her own age next time. I just really wish the surgery wasn't a thing. Age gracefully please people. It's painful to see.