the perfect family movie review 2022

Action/Adventure
Children's/Family
Documentary/Reality
Amazon Prime Video

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The Perfect Family’ on Netflix, A Spanish Film About The Tensions Between A Woman And Her Mother-In-Law

Where to stream:.

The Perfect Family (2022)
Stream It Or Skip It

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Hailing from Spanish writer Olatz Arroyo and director Arantxa Echevarría, The Perfect Family (or the Spanish title, La Familia Perfecta ), the Spanish language film landed on Netflix as part of a licensing deal. Is the story about an uptight mother and her son’s lower-class girlfriend in Madrid worth the stream?

THE PERFECT FAMILY : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Posh stay-at-home mom Lucia is shocked when her son Pablo introduces her to a lower-class woman, Sara, with the intention to marry her. Reluctantly, Lucia helps them plan their wedding along with Sara’s father Miguel, who inadvertently changes her life forever when they act on a mutual crush.

What Will It Remind You Of?: Lucia’s initial wedding sabotage plan felt like Jane Fonda in Monster-In-Law , but her character’s journey feels more like Julia Roberts’ reinvention in Eat, Pray Love (though Lucia doesn’t have to leave the country to find her bliss).

Performance Worth Watching: Belén Rueda is great at calibrating the different versions of Lucia — entirely believable as a stuck up upper-class woman and then later as a reformed school administrator.

Memorable Dialogue: Before departing on a roadtrip to see wedding venues, Pablo’s father Ernesto drives home the fact that he’s incapable of caring for himself: “Do I heat it up in Celsius or Farenheit?,” he asks about the microwave. “The fridge was right here!” he realizes later in the scene.

Sex and Skin: While we don’t see anything explicit, Pablo and Sara do have some loud sex at the cabin that spooks his mother.

Our Take: If this were a film entirely about the friction between a stern mother-in-law and her off-the-beaten-track daughter-in-law, this film would fall flat. There’s hardly any character and relationship development between Pablo and Sara — the only thing we really see is the conflict of the two different worlds they come from, which manifests in their mannerisms and costuming. We also hardly see Lucia and Sara interacting enough to warrant the supposed hatred between them. It’s a story we’ve seen before and ultimately Lucia doesn’t fully embody the evil mother-in-law stereotype aside from nudging the couple towards postponing their wedding.

So it’s great that the film isn’t really about that. The ill-fated romance between Pablo’s mother Lucia and Sara’s father Miguel is a diversion to get to a more interesting story: the reinvention of Lucia. After the affair, Lucia moves out of her big, dreamy apartment and away from the creature comforts that she became so used to (including her uninterested housekeeper and her cold husband), and forces Lucia to finally listen to herself for once. I’m always here for the story of older women finally living life on their own terms, and The Perfect Family allows Lucia to trip over her own feet on her journey to that place.

While there aren’t any star-making performances in the film, Rueda’s warmth makes it easy to root for her even when she’s making bad decisions. And the film is subtly funny, with a few one-liners that provide a chuckle (though I wasn’t necessarily laughing out loud at any point).

This film won’t change the world and it occasionally plays like a Lifetime holiday movie, but it’s enjoyable for those interested in a lighthearted film that may also make you want to book the next flight to Madrid. (Note: Netflix will autoplay this film with an English dub, but I recommend watching in the original Spanish with subtitles in order to get the full effect of the performances and story.)

Will you stream or skip the Spanish film #ThePerfectFamily on @netflix ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) May 19, 2022

Our Call: STREAM IT. What starts out as a typical story about a wealthy, disapproving mother-in-law turns into a film about freedom and reinvention.

Radhika Menon ( @menonrad ) is a TV-obsessed writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared on Vulture, Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine and more. At any given moment, she can ruminate at length over Friday Night Lights, the University of Michigan, and the perfect slice of pizza. You may call her Rad.

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The Perfect Family Reviews

The Perfect Family is a simple movie with a far more nuanced direction and final ending point than its premise may first lead you to assume.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Jan 4, 2023

This romantic comedy of broad strokes transforms into an argument for empowerment and the belated pursuit of happiness. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jun 22, 2022

Full Review | May 20, 2022

A feminist narrative of resilience, empowerment, and deconstruction… [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | May 17, 2022

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Parents' guide to, the perfect family.

Common Sense Says
Parents Say 0 Reviews
Kids Say 0 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Family dramedy about self-discovery has language.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

"F--k," "s--t," "bastard," "bitch," "ass," "hell," "damn," "pee," "suck," and "p

A man and woman kiss and have a passionate extramarital one-night stand, most of

Adults drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes.

Any Positive Content?

Spanish movie set in Spain with Spanish actors. Class and socioeconomic differen

It's never too late to start again.

Lucia seems cold, formal, and stuck-up but transforms into someone warm, caring,

Parents need to know that The Perfect Family is a 2022 Spanish dramedy about a woman who learns that in having become the perfect wife and mother, she has lost herself. Only when the family explodes can she, her husband, son, and in-laws recover themselves and see each other as they are. Given the subject matter, this may not have much appeal for kids. Adults drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and have an extramarital affair (no nudity). Language includes "f--k," "s--t," "bastard," "bitch," "ass," "hell," "damn," "pee," "suck," and "piss." In Spanish with English subtitles.

To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

"F--k," "s--t," "bastard," "bitch," "ass," "hell," "damn," "pee," "suck," and "piss."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A man and woman kiss and have a passionate extramarital one-night stand, most of it off-screen. No nudity.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Diverse Representations

Spanish movie set in Spain with Spanish actors. Class and socioeconomic differences are juxtaposed. A privileged woman finds her greatest happiness when she loses the financial support of her husband and strikes out on her own. Addresses the way wives are expected to drop their old lives, jobs, and hopes to singlehandedly take on the burdens of child-rearing and housekeeping while husbands go on with their lives undisturbed by the arrival of children. A female bus driver assails a driver who says she drives badly because she's a woman. She sets him straight, to the applause of onlookers.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update .

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Lucia seems cold, formal, and stuck-up but transforms into someone warm, caring, and loose.

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

THE PERFECT FAMILY is populated by far-from-perfect characters, including the rigid and critical Lucia (Belen Rueda), the upper-class, prim, and proper wife of astronomy professor Ernesto (Gonzalo de Castro) and mother of lawyer Pablo (Gonzalo Ramos). Pablo lives at home and is terrified to tell his parents he's engaged to Sara (Carolina Yuste), the outgoing and crude daughter of a bus driver. Ernesto doesn't know where the refrigerator is or how to use the microwave until his wife goes away for a few days. Sara's mom is too loud and casual for Lucia's taste and the families are at odds after their first meeting. Soon Lucia is thrown together with Sara's father, Miguel (Jose Coronado). As they shop for the wedding dress and make other preparations, they discover an ungovernable passion that culminates shockingly at their children's wedding. There and then, he announces his new love to his wife, Amparo (Pepa Aniorte), while Lucia protests that she can't explode her entire life over an unexpected hormonal spike. When she talks about it with Ernesto, his tepid response lights the TNT and she leaves him, finds a dirty apartment, and gets a job. What will become of Lucia?

Is It Any Good?

The second half of The Perfect Family is a feel-good antidote to the first, lamer half. Stick-figure characters dominate the early scenes, but all undergo unlikely personality transplants, some morphing from clichés of middle-class crudeness and ignorance to enlightened intelligence, and others from aloof and disconnected wealth to grounded, sympathetic decency. The transformations aren't believable, but at least the people we have before us at the film's end are mostly appealing.

Lucia, played by the luminous Belen Rueda, starts as a critical, controlling, emotionless automaton as she knee-jerk recoils at the coarse ways of her in-laws-to-be. When no longer shackled to that preposterous character, Rueda glows, now embodying the new Lucia, a picture of acceptance, warmth, passion, and understanding. All it took, the filmmakers seem to suggest, was having an affair and cleaning a filthy toilet. Lucia seems far warmer and happier as a working woman than as a privileged housewife and mom, and it's catching. Eventually her family and in-laws change, too, and come together in peace and appreciation. It's not where the movie seemed to be taking us at the start, but it's good that it got us there.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Lucia's transformation is expressed in The Perfect Family . How does she react to the coarse casualness of her in-laws at the beginning? How has she changed by the time she deals with moving to a dilapidated apartment of her own?

Do you think the movie does a good job of pitting members of one socioeconomic level against those of another? Why, or why not?

Why do you think Lucia acts the way she does?

Movie Details

On DVD or streaming : May 15, 2022
Cast : Belen Rueda , Jose Coronado , Carolina Yuste , Gonzalo Ramos , Gonzalo de Castro
Director : Arantxa Eschevarria
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Latino actors
Studio : Netflix
Genre : Drama
Run time : 110 minutes
MPAA rating : NR
Last updated : February 17, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Mental Health

The Perfect Family ( La Familia Perfecta ) is a realisation of a family for those who can’t tell from the title. As light as the movie’s tone, it’s a refreshing take on the family dynamics. The movie is directed by Arantxa Echevarria and the cast is Bethlehem Rueda, Jose Coronado, Gonzalo de Castro, Carolina Yuste, Gonzalo Ramos, Jesus Vidal, Pepa Aniorte, Pepe Leisure, and Maria Hervás.

– The Perfect Family review does not contain any spoilers –

La Familia Perfecta Has an Incredible Ensemble Cast

The celebrities have a few unmistakable appearances from Spanish films. The film is a charming purposeful anecdote about what life is like in a family. Chief Arantxa Echevarria has worked effectively gathering an extraordinary outfit cast to rejuvenate this story.

The Perfect Family (2022) Review: Light-hearted and Entertaining

Curiously, a portion of the cast individuals plays characters you’re not continuously going to concur with. While most of the characters’ defects are sensible given their conditions, it’s not generally simple watching them. They have various philosophies and values.

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A Dilemma Follows, and La Familia Perfecta Gets a New Meaning

Perhaps the best thing about La Familia Perfecta is that it doesn’t avoid showing that they don’t necessarily, in all cases, get along, although they might be neighbours or companions. The film is keen on how individuals’ impressions change with an emergency and how individuals become separated from being the perfect family for such a long time.

The cast can flaunt a wide scope of feelings, from euphoria to bitterness to outrage and back once more. They also have incredible science, which causes them to feel like they have been stuck in this present circumstance together for quite a while before the film even opened up.

Despite the problems and frustrations, the characters never lose trust. They needed to do a few penances en route, requiring their lives to be postponed, yet they took in a few significant examples about themselves and one another. The characters were confounded yet not irredeemable. We go through times where we feel like we’re facing it; however, there’s generally a splendid reason to have some hope, even in terrible circumstances .

Also Read: Our Father Review: Cruel, Disgusting and Spine Chilling

Uncovered: The Perfect Family is a Portrayal of Diverse Emotions

This film shows us how different our responses could be at the point at which we are overpowered. It likewise showed us that it is essential to have somebody there to help you through your emergency when no other person is near.

La Familia Perfecta is a fantastic film. Even though it’s about families, the storyline has many good and less promising times, making it charming to watch. When you have children watching these kinds of motion pictures, it’s perfect to have something they can watch that will make them chuckle and engage them.

There’s a lot of activity and humour throughout the film, and you’ll be perched as eager and anxious as you can, considering what will occur straightaway. You’ll perceive how specific individuals manage it better than others and get a brief look at how certain individuals don’t thoroughly consider things prior to making moves that could destroy them.

Also Read: Under the Banner of Heaven Episode 4 Preview: What Happens Next and When Will it Release?

Humour at its Peak – La Familia Perfecta is an Ideal Comedy

Generally, La Familia Perfecta is a parody. However, it offers another component. A portion of the characters are naturally upset and attempt to make sense of ways; others consider it a potential chance to propel their plans.

The exhibitions are a piece at times good, and other times not so great, yet generally, they’re strong. The science between the gathering is likewise magnificent, with each character having an unmistakable personality and funny bone.

The simple story is the gathering of outsiders and their collaborations, and Netflix works effectively in causing it to feel like you’re watching a film with a group cast.

Stream It or Skip It?

However, managing a fiasco by remaining in your own house is interesting. There are a few circumstances where you need to dig in and brave it, regardless of how awful things get.

However, at that point once more, I don’t believe that is indeed what’s going on with La Familia Perfecta . It’s to a greater degree a person study. How individuals respond to this present circumstance makes this film intriguing. Do they rally or tear each other separated?

The same things completely associate us. It’s not generally simple to perceive how. However, it is valid. Our disparities don’t limit us; they make us more comparative.

The Perfect Family is streaming on Netflix .

Bethlehem Rueda
Carolina Yuste
Gonzalo de Castro
Jose Coronado
The Perfect Family

It’s Spanish, the movie is set in Madrid. And it’s an absolute gem, it’s bloody hilarious.

Italian?! No, Spanish. Spanish actors with Spanish names in a movie based in Madrid, Spain, in which they speak Spanish. I was seriously doubting my sanity for a minute there!

One of the worst movies that I seen. It is predictable, the script is weak and the acting is mediocre along with the directing

Fantastic …10