Warning: This post contains spoilers for “A Family Affair”
What happens when a Hollywood heartthrob falls for his assistant’s mother?
“A Family Affair” is Netflix’s newest romantic comedy directed by Richard Lagravenese. The movie follows Zac Efron as movie star Chris Cole, a high maintenance boss and womanizer whose personal assistant Zara (Joey King) is left picking up his messes and running his errands, hoping that one day she can become a producer.
When it becomes clear to Zara that Chris is too self-centered to think about promoting her, she decides to quit.
In an attempt to get her to return to work for him — with an elevated title of associate producer — Chris visits Zara’s house and ends up meeting her successful writer mom Brooke, portrayed by Nicole Kidman. Much to Zara’s horror, Chris and her mom begin a whirlwind romance that can’t be shut down despite their 16-year age gap and Zara’s disapproval.
While the movie’s romance comes in the form of Brooke and Chris’ passionate affair, there is quick-witted comedic timing when all three main characters interact.
At 24-years-old — the same age that “A Family Affair” writer Carrie Solomon was when she wrote the movie’s script — Zara navigates her way through Hollywood and learns that part of being a producer is bringing people together.
How does ‘A Family Affair’ end?
Putting their differences over Chris aside, Zara agrees to go to her grandma Leila’s (Kathy Bates) to join her mom so they can spend Christmas as a family.
Leila only wants the best for her daughter-in-law after her son became sick and died 11 years ago, leaving Brooke windowed. She gives Brooke permission to move past her husband and encourages her to invite Chris, knowing it will be a good bonding opportunity for Chris and Zara.
Leila’s plan works, and Chris admits that after not having a home to go to for the holidays, this was the best Christmas he has ever had.
However, as they’re leaving Leila’s, Zara finds diamond earrings in Chris’ bag — the same pair of earrings he gets for every woman he plans to break up with. In a messy reveal, Zara prompts her mom to break up with Chris, leaving both of them alone on New Year’s.
When Zara goes to her best friend Genie (Liza Koshy) with the news, she learns that Genie just went through a breakup of her own but was never able to talk about it due to Zara’s own self-centeredness. This makes Zara self-reflect and come to the realization that Chris might not be the bad guy she thought he was.
In a heart-to-heart with Zara on the set of his new movie, Chris admits that he did in fact think about ending things with Brooke, but says it was “only out of habit, because (he) always runs from things that are too good for (him).”
It becomes evident that Chris’ high maintenance and hostility towards Zara stems from the loneliness which accompanies extreme fame and visibility. Zara realizes that her “evil boss” is just a human being who is more than a Hollywood heartthrob and that Chris and her mom deserve to have each other.
There is only one problem: Brooke has already planned to move across the country to teach at Princeton.
Do Chris and Brooke end up together?
Zara does what any daughter who wants to see her mom in love would do. Taking everything she has learned while working for Chris, Zara orchestrates a parent trap at the very grocery store that Chris always wished he could go to had it not been for his celebrity status.
With Leila’s help, Brooke and Chris share a romantic reunion in the produce aisle. Chris confesses that he no longer wants to be an “island of one” and the two kiss in a triumphant moment.
With a newfound confidence, Zara walks out of the grocery store and into a frenzy of paparazzi. She smiles and tells an eager fan looking for Chris that the only people in the store are “my mom and her boyfriend.”
Do Chris and Brooke stay together?
Jumping to one year later, we learn that Brooke published a new book titled “Second Time Around,” and is still with Chris. Zara has fully come around to the relationship and can laugh when Chris makes an accidental “your mom” joke.
Most importantly, Brooke, Chris and Zara are supportive of each other and have continued to help each other achieve the dreams they had at the beginning of the movie.
Does Zara become a producer?
With poise and a big office of her own, Zara is thriving as a producer on Chris’ new movie. Now, she is the one with a list of requests — but knowing what it takes to be a personal assistant, she makes sure to treat hers well.
Chris is no longer playing the same ridiculous superhero he’s been forced to play his whole career, and has stepped into his own as a legitimate actor.
All three characters have found their place — not just in Hollywood, but as part of a family.
“A Family Affair” is now streaming on Netflix.
