Film Review: A Family Affair (2024)

I couldn’t wait to see Netflix’s brand new movie A Family Affair starring Zac Efron, Joey King and Nicole Kidman. Essentially it is Netflix’s answer to Prime’s The Idea of You. The self-obsessed movie star tortures his assistant and falls in love with her widowed mother.

The story starts in a strong comedic position, we see the back and forth between Efron and King and the groundwork is forming. However, as soon as Efron meets Kidman they’re instantly hooked, drinking tequila and kissing. There is no pull and push, the story goes all in so quickly that it becomes frustrating.

Also why is it set around Christmas time and released in June? And why are the Christmas scenes completely unconvincing?

There is a moment between acting powerhouses Kidman and her mother in law Kathy Bates that seemingly adds some emotional depth to the story. But don’t get too sucked into it, because immediately we’re back to whiny conversations and Kidman putting her head one to many times on Efron’s shoulder.

The beginning and end of the movie had genuine moments of comedy. It lost its way during you know, the main part, and became soppy and melodramatic. The sharp wit in the first scenes and the actual last scene could have saved the movie as being a genuine rom-com. I didn’t crack a smile during the entire movie. It was one of those easy watches that you could have been doing anything else, like watching another movie, and still know how it was going to end.