Zac Efron was in a different headspace when he co-starred with Nicole Kidman over a decade ago.
In 2012’s The Paperboy, Efron’s character falls for an older woman (Kidman), who is in love with an incarcerated murderer. We had so much fun doing that, but it was crazy,
Efron tells PEOPLE. This time around, Efron portrays an egotistical movie star named Chris Cole, grappling with dating due to his fame while making moves on the mother (Kidman) of his personal assistant (Joey King).
Efron, 36, and Kidman, 57, reunite in Netflix’s new comedy A Family Affair. This time the dynamics are more lighthearted; Kidman’s onscreen mom character becomes the love interest of Efron’s movie star persona while Joey King’s character Zara navigates her professional ambitions and protective feelings toward her mother.
An Unexpected Love Triangle
The plot follows Chris Cole as he tries to win back his personal assistant by winning over her mother. Romantic and professional high jinks ensue as Chris attempts this delicate balance. The task isn’t easy for him nor Zara, and much of the humor stems from this complex relationship.
Efron mentions their new onscreen romantic dynamic highlighted a less stressful environment compared to past collaborations with Kidman. “We got the joy of getting to fall in love with a lot less stress,”
he says about their current working relationship.
Professional Evolution and Onscreen Chemistry
This isn’t the first time the trio has engaged in intimate scenes, which is evident in their seamless performance. According to Kidman, having a shared history plays a significant role. It’s really helpful when you’re doing this sort of work together that you’ve already got a history together because it’s easy… I feel incredibly trusting of Zac
, she states.
Efron’s dedicated prep for his upcoming wrestling drama The Iron Claw also finds its way into the film, particularly in an ice bath scene featuring him and King. Director Richard LaGravanese decided to include this real-life element after seeing Efron shivering during lunch breaks.
A Breath of Fresh Air in Rom-Coms
Kidman regards the script by Carrie Solomon as exceptional within the rom-com genre. Initially titled Motherf—er, it didn’t make it onto Netflix under that name but caught her attention nonetheless for its fresh narrative take.
Kidman highlights the importance of varied viewpoints in romantic storytelling: We’ve had it from way back with older men and younger women… The problem is we’ve not had the equivalent from all different viewpoints…
Efron’s approach to supporting both Kidman and King’s characters showcases his enthusiasm for collaborative storytelling. [Efron] came in and makes the film because he was like, ‘I’m here to have fun, to play,…’
, Kidman notes.
Refreshing Performances Despite Conventional Premises
A Family Affair takes quintessential romantic comedy trappings and gives them a twist thanks largely to its well-matched cast. Their chemistry drives home the charm while the clever script injects new life into familiar setups.
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