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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Featured reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Storyline
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.
- GoofsAround 25 minutes in, Chris arrives at Zara's house in a black Cadillac, pulling up right outside the front door; when Zara arrives home the car is no longer there.
- 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
- Color
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- 2.00 : 1
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