Don't skip the incredibly charming crowd-pleaser A Family Affair

It's not every day that Nicole Kidman stars in a romantic comedy, so when she does, you had better take notice. The Academy and Emmy Award winning actresses stars in many productions each year, mostly in the drama genre of films and limited series. But now she's starring in the frothy summer treat that is the Netflix rom-com A Family Affair.

Kidman stars in the movie as Brooke Harwood, a writer and the widowed mother of Joey King's character Zara. When Zara's troubles with her movie star boss Chris Cole, played excellently by real-life movie star Zac Efron, find their way on her doorstep, sparks fly between Brooke and the slightly younger Chris. What ensues is a comical and touching exploration of love and identity.

But should you watch or skip A Family Affair on Netflix? Honestly, because of Kidman, King, and Efron, the movie is unbelievably watchable and delightful. Though some Netflix watchers might be wary of the movie following Netflix's most recent string of rom-coms (Irish Wish, Mother of the Bride, et al.), but don't miss out on a fun movie night that will actually be funny, too.

A romantic comedy that's actually funny

Recently, romantic comedies have been proclaimed to be "back," though some of the most popular titles ushering in the rom-com renaissance aren't totally leaning into the "com" part. Anyone But You starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell is fresh and humorous, but it's not consistently funny. Neither is Amazon Prime's hit The Idea of You with Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

Both of those movies are wonderful, but A Family Affair has been the closest thing I have found as of late that even comes close to reaching the heights of the 2000s-era romantic comedies viewers have been missing. It's not quite full-tilt comedy in the way of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days or Legally Blonde, but it's somewhere in the middle of heart and humor, like 27 Dresses or Runaway Bride.

It helps, too, that it's not a rom-com that rests solely on the shoulders of its romantic leads. The romance between Kidman's Brooke and Efron's Chris is a driving force of the movie for sure, but King's Zara plays just as an important part in the movie as they do, and the talented actress (whose comedy chops aren't recognized enough) lifts up a role that could have been drowned out in the shuffle.

Even supporting roles from three stars with a razor sharp wit and comedic timing — Kathy Bates, Liza Koshy, and Sherry Cola — aren't relied upon for A Family Affair's only source of laughs. They aren't the comic relief on the sideline to liven the mood. For once, a romantic comedy allows the leading star(s) to deliver both the "rom" and the natural "com" from their own inherent charisma.

Too often, modern romantic comedy scripts force in low-grade humor without allowing the movie's stars to shine. There's a reason we look back on rom-coms starring Kate Hudson, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, and more of the genre's greats. They got it. And Kidman, King, and Efron get it. You can't manufacture chemistry or humor. It's either there or it's not.

Anyway, that's just a long-winded way of saying that A Family Affair has a key ingredient that has been missing from a handful of the latest rom-coms. The movie still could have used some tightening in its nearly two-hour runtime, but it's a true pleasure to watch. If you're a romantic comedy purist, you don't want to skip out on a potential new classic.

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