A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her movie-star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her movie-star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.A surprising romance kicks off comic consequences for a young woman, her mother, and her movie-star boss as they face the complications of love, sex, and identity.
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I had great expectations for this. Great cast, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Zac Efron and the always amazing Kathy Bates.
While on paper the casting is great, but when you watch this weak romcom it's easy to see that Efron and Kidman have been miscast. Either one would probably have worked very well with another actor but together Efron and Kidman are quite frankly, awful, in this. They have zero chemistry and to me looks like they couldn't even fake it. Their faces seem to lack the ability to portray any natural emotive expressions whatsoever. They are 100% not believable as lovers which makes it really impossible to root for their relationship.
Bates is her usual lovely self, and King is excellent, providing the only comic relief here. They completely carry this film.
Avoid.
While on paper the casting is great, but when you watch this weak romcom it's easy to see that Efron and Kidman have been miscast. Either one would probably have worked very well with another actor but together Efron and Kidman are quite frankly, awful, in this. They have zero chemistry and to me looks like they couldn't even fake it. Their faces seem to lack the ability to portray any natural emotive expressions whatsoever. They are 100% not believable as lovers which makes it really impossible to root for their relationship.
Bates is her usual lovely self, and King is excellent, providing the only comic relief here. They completely carry this film.
Avoid.
Nicole Kidman, judging solely by the expensive LA-area home of hers, is successful author Brooke Harwood. Her husband passed away some 11 years earlier and she is living a mostly quiet life with a 24-yr-old daughter who has moved back in while trying to get her movie or TV production career energized.
Her daughter works as an assistant for an often juvenile, demanding, and entitled actor, played by Zac Efron as Chris Cole. Strictly by accident Chris meets Brooke, not even knowing who she is. He is smitten, even though later the two characters say that he is 16 years younger than Brooke. (In real life Kidman is 21 years older than Efron.)
The daughter is played by Joey King as Zara Ford. King is one of the better actresses of her generation and her role here is no exception. In fact, even though Kidman and Efron are the bigger stars, and much of the focus in on their budding relationship, the story is more Zara's story. She knows Chris very well and she desperately wants to convince her mother that he is not good for her. Zara's character arc is to respect her mother and her choices.
The whole movie is more about Zara than anything else.
Also in a very good role is veteran Kathy Bates as the grandma, Leila Ford. She has a special relationship with Zara and is instrumental in helping her face reality.
My wife and I watched it streaming, it is a better movie than we thought it was going to be.
Her daughter works as an assistant for an often juvenile, demanding, and entitled actor, played by Zac Efron as Chris Cole. Strictly by accident Chris meets Brooke, not even knowing who she is. He is smitten, even though later the two characters say that he is 16 years younger than Brooke. (In real life Kidman is 21 years older than Efron.)
The daughter is played by Joey King as Zara Ford. King is one of the better actresses of her generation and her role here is no exception. In fact, even though Kidman and Efron are the bigger stars, and much of the focus in on their budding relationship, the story is more Zara's story. She knows Chris very well and she desperately wants to convince her mother that he is not good for her. Zara's character arc is to respect her mother and her choices.
The whole movie is more about Zara than anything else.
Also in a very good role is veteran Kathy Bates as the grandma, Leila Ford. She has a special relationship with Zara and is instrumental in helping her face reality.
My wife and I watched it streaming, it is a better movie than we thought it was going to be.
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.
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.
After seeing this advertised on the coming soon section of Netflix and the great cast line up I eagerly watched this on the day of release. While I'm glad I watched it, I would say it fell short of my expectations. The storyline is average and in parts a little messy. Some of the chemistry between characters feels a little too forced tho this could be down to how the script has been written rather than the actors capabilities. There was definitely atleast one scene I didn't feel worked at all and was a poor choice when written for the direction they wanted the storyline to go.
I wouldn't say this movie was absolutely awful, the actors do a great job in their respective roles with Joey King probably giving the best performance of the main leads. The ending was a little predictable and I could see where it was going to end up ahead of time. Not the worst watch, an average rom com at best. For me it wasn't enjoyable or memorable enough to make me want to rewatch in future so this will likely be a one time viewing.
I wouldn't say this movie was absolutely awful, the actors do a great job in their respective roles with Joey King probably giving the best performance of the main leads. The ending was a little predictable and I could see where it was going to end up ahead of time. Not the worst watch, an average rom com at best. For me it wasn't enjoyable or memorable enough to make me want to rewatch in future so this will likely be a one time viewing.
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.
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.
Did you know
- TriviaIn the doctor's office when Zara (Joey King) asks her mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman), "What is he, like 20 years younger than you?" referring to Chris (Zac Efron), her mom responds, "Sixteen." Kidman is 20 years older than Efron.
- GoofsBrooke (Kidman) & Chris (Efron) rush her daughter to the hospital - in the very next scene (in the waiting room) both have noticeably different haircuts. Perhaps they stopped at a stylists on the way.
- Quotes
Leila Ford: No great tryst ever started with someone being rational.
- SoundtracksI'm Your Man
Written by George Michael
Performed by Wham!
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment
- How long is A Family Affair?Powered by Alexa
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- Un asunto familiar
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- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
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- 2.00 : 1
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