After a significant hiatus of nearly two decades, director Richard LaGravenes makes a captivating return to the romance genre with his latest film, ‘A Family Affair,’ now available on Netflix. The film, penned by the talented Carrie Solomon, is set in Hollywood’s glitzy and glam-filled world. It weaves a compelling narrative around the life of a young woman named Zara (Joey Ford), who serves as the assistant to Chris Cole (Zac Efron), one of the world’s most renowned movie stars. As their lives intertwine unexpectedly, the story unfolds with a delightful mix of humor and heartwarming moments.
The movie introduces us to Zara and Chris and their business relationship. One of the first things that caught me off guard with the film was the characterization of Chris Cole. While Efron could have easily turned the character into a tool, he is portrayed as having likable qualities but is vastly aware of his celebrity. The script wisely plays on Efron’s movie star charm, so it comes across as organic when the meet cute happens between Brooke and Chris. While Kidman could do a role like this in her sleep it’s always good to see her on screen.
Kidman and Efron, who shared the screen previously in 2012’s “The Paperboy,” erase the conversational jellyfish scene in that film from my mental Rolodex with thin the first ten minutes we see them together. While their May-December
romance could have taken a ton of different angles, the script navigates the complexities of their relationships. They are forced to confront their insecurities and desires, leading to moments of both laughter and introspection. Joey King also gives off enough moxie for audiences to like her character. One of the film’s most compelling aspects is its well-developed characters, each bringing a unique perspective to the story. From Zara, a young woman juggling her personal and professional life, to her mother, who unexpectedly get her groove back, to the charismatic movie star boss wrestling with his vulnerabilities, the characters are relatable and engaging, drawing viewers into their world.
Sadly, “A Family Affair” can’t transfer these elements to the rest of the cast. The usually reliable Kathy Bates portrays herself as a caricature, and the cougar lines she uses to omit laughs concerning her attraction to Efron’s character fall flat. Concurrently rising comedic talents Sherry Cola and Liza Koshy aren’t given any witty dialogue to showcase their sharp comedic timing. The film doesn’t offer too many laughs, and I didn’t chuckle until Efron’s last line in the movie.
Nevertheless, from the strength of the leads, “A Family Overall, “is a charming one-time and feel-good film that celebrates the complexities of love and relationships.
Final Grade: B-
“A Family Affair” is available to stream tomorrow at www.netflix.com/afamilyaffair
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.
One wonderful aspect of supporting physical media is that I never run short of albums to choose from when deciding what to cover for Second Listen Sunday. Often, I’ll head to the man cave, browse through my CD collection, and an album will pop out at me. This week’s pick is T-Pain’s fourth album, “Revolver.”
One of my favorite singers, Mr. Eric Roberson, is performing this weekend at America’s legendary music venue, The Birchmere. To show Eric some love, I want to highlight something longtime R&B fans have always known: he’s had remarkable songwriting talent.