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Photo credit: Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2024

The original title of the new romantic comedy A family affair was the much more angular MotherF*&#er, and while the basic story of an older woman starting an affair with her 24-year-old daughter’s younger movie star boss is very funny, the film probably creates false expectations of a smart, character-driven romantic comedy that features a delicious cast with a witty script and exciting situations for everyone. The generic title sums it up, as this is directly about three people in a cross-generational coming-of-age story, all searching for their own personal happiness.

Netflix actually uses this original title in its tagline for the film, calling it “A MotherF*&#er of a Love Story,” and that says it all. Hot on the heels of Amazon’s romantic comedy The idea of ​​you — in which a single mother (Anne Hathaway) in her forties finds unexpected love with a 24-year-old rock superstar (played by Nicholas Galitzine) when she accompanies her teenage daughter to his group’s concert. A family affair also finds plenty of mileage in a similar configuration.

Nicole Kidman plays Brooke Harwood, a famous author who is going through a lull in her career when a much younger man enters her life, thirty-something action movie star Chris Cole (Zac Efron), who is also the somewhat obnoxious and demanding boss of Brooke’s daughter Zara. She is at a frustrating point in her career, still having to fulfill his every whim as Cole’s assistant and failing to climb the corporate ladder to associate producer as he promised her he would. Instead, he constantly threatens to fire her on the days she doesn’t threaten to quit. Life gets very complicated, however, when sparks fly after a chance encounter between Chris and Zara’s mother, with whom she still lives at home.

Brooke has been a widow for 11 years and isn’t necessarily looking for love in her life. She’s wise, proud of her daughter and hopes for the best for her, but now she unexpectedly falls for a movie star who is pretty insecure deep down. Zara is skeptical to say the least, as she’s the one who always had to do the dirty work in Cole’s previous relationships, from which he always came out with a parting gift of diamond earrings. She fears, with good reason, that things might now go downhill with her mother, as this new relationship is a little too close to home for her.

Screenwriter Carrie Solomon was about the same age as Zara when she was inspired to write a screenplay about the romance between an older woman and a younger man, a twist on the usual Hollywood fare of a relationship between an older man and a younger woman, as has long been portrayed in films or in scandalous real-life pairings such as the recent May December Significantly, she set the film during the Christmas season, but it’s not what you’d call a “Christmas movie,” so it doesn’t seem entirely out of place when it hits theaters in June.

Casting is crucial in these romantic comedies, and luckily Kidman and Efron had a head start, having been filmed on a very different film, Lee Daniels’ 2012 drama. The paper boy. Here, you immediately believe in the chemistry between the pair, despite the 21-year age difference between the two stars. It’s also refreshing to see Kidman, who is very appealing here, in a rare role in a romantic comedy that she clearly enjoys but is also believably grounded in reality. We have to believe that this conceited movie star, always being taken care of, can really be attracted to the mother of his long-suffering assistant – and vice versa – and the stars make us believe it.

As for Efron, his comedic timing is spot on, especially when working with Zara, where the two pass the ball to each other in tried and tested screwball comedy fashion. King is simply great here, proving that she has the same impressive talent for comedy, even in some slapstick moments, as she does for more tortured dramatic roles like The act and the current We were the lucky ones.

A nice addition to the mix is ​​the ever-reliable Kathy Bates, who has been appearing in supporting roles lately, this time as Brooke’s mother-in-law and editor, who offers sage advice not only to Brooke but also to her own granddaughter. Liza Koshy, a player, gets the more standard role of Zara’s best friend, but doesn’t get much opportunity to live it up.

Director Richard LaGravenese, known for his screenplays, including The Horse Whisperer, The Fisher King, The Bridges by the River, and so many others, here is one of his best performances as a director. He skillfully navigates the comic moments of this situation and effectively balances the more emotional moments as well. He and Solomon don’t reinvent the wheel of the romantic comedy, but have delivered a lighthearted and sophisticated entertainment for adults looking for the kind of adult film that is becoming increasingly rare – at least outside of streamers, and exactly where, as The idea of ​​you, The audience has to find this film. Look for it.

Producers are Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum.

Title: A family affair
Distributor: Netflix
Release date: June 28, 2024
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Screenwriter: Carrie Solomon
Pour: Nicole Kidman, Zac Efron, Joey King, Kathy Bates, Liza Koshy
Duration: 1 hour, 51 minutes