A Family Affair movie review by movie16
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A Family Affair (2024) Movie Review - A Low-Wattage Rom-Com Fails to Shine
A Family Affair (2024) feels as bland as its title suggests, relying on overused tropes and predictable plotlines in an effort to combine romance with humor. Directed by Richard LaGravenese, the film attempts to capture the charm of a mismatched love story between an older woman and a much younger superstar, but ultimately falls short of its goal. The film stars Nicole Kidman as Brooke Harwood, a celebrated author, and Zac Efron as Chris Cole, a superhero franchise star, whose sudden romance sparks predictable chaos. Unfortunately, A Family Affair struggles to rise above a formulaic narrative, despite its talented cast and glamorous setting.
The premise of the film revolves around Brooke’s daughter Zara (Joey King), who serves as Chris Cole's personal assistant. Zara’s job involves doing everything for the self-absorbed actor, from running errands to dealing with his relationships. She stays in the role in the hopes that Chris will eventually help her with her own career, but she ultimately quits, tired of his constant demands. Just as Chris is about to start filming another sequel in his Icarus franchise, he tracks down Zara at her home and instead finds Brooke. What follows is an improbable and rushed romance between Brooke and Chris, which culminates in Zara walking in on them, leading to forced and unfunny hijinks.
One of the main issues with A Family Affair is its shallow character development. Chris Cole is written as the stereotypical clueless Hollywood star, and Brooke Harwood, despite being a successful novelist, falls for him after a flimsy conversation about Greek mythology. The movie tries to explore deeper themes, such as loneliness and the superficiality of fame, but these attempts are undermined by the absurdity of their romance. It's difficult to buy into the relationship between Brooke and Chris, especially when it’s reduced to the two bonding over the simplistic revelation that Icarus, the character Chris portrays, is named after the mythological figure who flew too close to the sun.
Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron do their best with what they’re given, but the script doesn’t provide enough substance for them to create any meaningful chemistry. The supporting cast, including Joey King, Kathy Bates, Liza Koshy, and Sherry Cola, outshines the leads in many ways. King tries to bring energy to Zara’s character, but her storyline feels underdeveloped, while her friends, played by Koshy and Cola, are far more engaging and entertaining.
The film does have some bright spots, particularly in its satirical take on Hollywood culture. The opening montage, which introduces Chris as a megastar with a glamorous life, is filled with amusing details, like magazine covers, paparazzi chases, and his guest appearance on Hot Ones. There’s also a scene where Chris has to reshoot a scene in his Icarus movie because the trailer can’t feature a gun due to its PG-13 rating—a small but clever commentary on the restrictions of modern blockbusters.
Despite these moments, A Family Affair fails to bring anything new to the rom-com genre. The film’s biggest flaw is that it relies on tired clichés without injecting any fresh energy into them. The script leans heavily on contrived scenarios, such as Zara striking a deal with Chris to never see her mother again in exchange for a career boost, only for Chris to break that promise almost immediately. The film’s third act is especially weak, with an unnecessary plot twist and a sappy ending reminiscent of a Hallmark Christmas special.
In the end, A Family Affair lacks the charm, wit, and emotional depth to make it a memorable romantic comedy. The film seems content to follow a paint-by-numbers formula, with little regard for character development or believable relationships. While the cast does its best to keep things interesting, the uninspired script and predictable plot make it hard to stay invested in the story.
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