Chris Cole needs to apologize.
The famous movie star’s personal assistant, Zara, recently quit her job out frustration. When he had hired her two years prior, it was under the impression that she’d eventually run his filmmaking company. But she’s been on little more than coffee runs in that time. And when Chris threatened her job for the umpteenth time over a miscommunication, well, Zara had had it.
But since then, Chris has had some reflecting to do, and he’s realized that he hasn’t kept his promise of building Zara’s skillset up. In fact, when she attempted to help him by attending a meeting meant to fix a sloppy movie script, he had exploded on her in anger for doing so. So Chris plans to personally stop by Zara’s home, not only to apologize but to offer her a position as associate producer for his upcoming film.
That was the plan, anyway.
Chris didn’t expect that Zara still lived with her mom, Brooke. He didn’t expect for Brooke to be there while Zara was running errands. He didn’t expect that the two would really hit it off as they sat and talked, waiting for Zara to come home.
And Zara didn’t expect to walk in on her mother having sex with her ex-boss.
Zara doesn’t want Chris to date her mom. And it’s easy to see why. Other than the fact that they’re not on the best of terms, Zara’s been his assistant for two years. She knows Chris’ typical dating pattern: get attached, have sex, break up with an expensive gift. And Zara doesn’t want Chris to hurt her mom like that.
But Zara also doesn’t see that at least part of her dislike for Chris is because he ultimately reminds her of herself. While Zara doesn’t go around breaking hearts, she’s just as selfish as he is in her own way, treating her mom and her friends more like servants than friends. And it’s not until Zara begins to confront her own insecurities and her feelings about Brooke and Chris’ relationship that she begins to recognize that.
Meanwhile, Brooke struggles to process her feelings for Chris, too. After all, it’s been more than a decade since her husband died, and she’s scared of all the things that can come with a new commitment. However, after talking it over with her mother-in-law (with whom she has a wonderful relationship, I might add), she’s confident she can deal with any potentially difficult things that may come with the good ones.
[Spoiler Warning] Lastly, we get to Chris. As the first paragraph of this section indicates, Chris has some skeletons in his closet; he’s not exactly the most trustworthy guy. But the truth is that Chris truly does care for Brooke in a way he’s never felt before. He provides gifts that show he listens, and he looks forward to holiday gatherings. Chris just wants to prove that despite the sins he’s committed before, he truly has changed—a message that might resonate with Christians even though this is by no means a Christian film.
We hear a reference to karma. Someone’s sarcastically described as a “heaven-sent angel of a mother.” People briefly discuss Greek mythology.
We, like Zara, unfortunately see Chris and Brooke as they are having sex. While no frontal nudity is shown, we do see a shirtless Brooke’s bare back, and Chris is likewise shirtless. We also see Brooke in her bra and underwear. And we later hear many references to an intimate moment, including some crude jokes. Brooke’s mother-in-law admits that she’s dying to know what Chris looks like naked.
A woman’s dress displays cleavage. Another woman talks about a script she’s written for a “queer dramedy.” Zara discusses how a piece of clothing accentuates her breasts. People talk about STDs. Someone suggests that Chris’ script should contain less Victoria’s Secret and more unpacking of “intimacy issues.”
Zara accidentally runs into a doorframe and nearly knocks herself unconscious. We her about a new action movie script involving “suicide-bombing reindeer” and “terrorist elves.”
The f-word is used twice, and the s-word is heard 10 times. “B–ch” is used and is likewise referenced on Zara’s license plate. “A–” and “d–n” are used, too. God’s name is taken in vain about 40 times, and Jesus’ name is likewise used profanely four times. Someone displays a middle finger.
People drink liquor. Chris references prescription drugs. Zara talks about a character in Chris’ film named “Rudolph the coke dealer.”
Chris gets objectified by paparazzi and others. Zara steals someone’s clothes.
Sometimes Netflix releases surprise us. They contain compelling stories and characters with whom we can really connect.
A Family Affair is not one of those movies.
It’s more of a standard-issue Netflix genre release: mildly entertaining but otherwise unengaging. It’s the kind of film you might watch on a slow day that, at the end of it, only makes you realize just how average it was. And that’s a shame, since the well-known names in the cast list might have implied more.
We might best describe A Family Affair as being something like a “postmodern Hallmark.” That is to say, it’s like a Hallmark romance, where you know the end from the moment it starts—albeit with far more content issues. In this case, those issues come in the form of sex and crude language.
Now, that’s not to condemn the story here entirely. There is something to be said about some of the deeper messages the film skims over. Chris dances with redemption amid feelings of societal isolation. He grasps at his first authentic relationship as a celebrity who’s so well-known that all relationships feel contractual. And Brooke wrestles with the uncertainty of her relational future when her past feels all too painful and real.
The unfortunate thing about A Family Affair, however, is that while these are its strongest scenes, they’re brushed quickly by for far less interesting content—and content that’ll make this difficult to watch in the family living room.
And that makes A Family Affair, well, not.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
