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The relationship between a mother and daughter can often be complicated, no matter how much they love each other. But that relationship gets so much messier in the Netflix rom-com A Family Affair, when a mother and daughter find themselves caught up in an awkward love triangle.
A Family Affair stars Joey King as Zara Ford, who’s spent the last two years working around the clock as the personal assistant to Hollywood superstar Chris Cole (Zac Efron). After Zara finally has enough of his ridiculous demands, she quits—but when he realizes that he can’t function without her, he goes to her home to get her back. Instead, he meets her mom, widowed author Brooke (Nicole Kidman). And when Zara comes home and catches her mom and her horrible boss together, it puts a strain on their relationship.
Though Chris convinces Zara to come back to work by making her an associate producer on his next superhero film, she demands that her mom and her boss stay away from each other—but, of course, they can’t. The added drama of a twenty-something daughter with her share of issues and insecurities definitely adds to the conflict and messiness of the usual romantic comedy—but while Zara is easily the most maddening character in the film, her constant disapproval definitely adds to the chaos. Fortunately, though, Kathy Bates balances her out as Brooke’s no-nonsense mother-in-law and editor, who encourages Brooke to be happy while calling her granddaughter out on her selfishness.
While the story that plays out here can definitely be over-the-top, it’s the most surprisingly lovable kind of over-the-top, thanks to a cast that clearly had fun with their roles. Zac Efron is perfect for his role as the handsome and muscular yet comically vain and spoiled movie star. He seems at his most comfortable when he’s not taking himself seriously—and he’s definitely not here. Chris is perfectly campy and clueless—the most amusing kind of horrible boss—yet he’s absolutely adorable alongside Nicole Kidman’s Brooke.
On the surface, it just seems like this movie shouldn’t work—but despite a few snags along the way, it somehow does. It’s sometimes silly and definitely predictable, but it makes for a surprisingly charming romantic comedy.
For fans of rom-coms, A Family Affair will check all of the boxes. It’s messy and dramatic but also funny and charming. It’s comical and cozy—a lovable choice for a rom-com escape at the end of a long day.
Get caught up in the family drama when A Family Affair comes to Netflix on June 28, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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