Movie Review
Netflix's latest dramedy, The Perfect Family Guide, is – at its simplest – a self-aware oxymoron. This film explores this idea and does so with mixed results.
Storyline
The story here is about a family living in Quebec, Canada. On the surface, everything looks perfect. Martin has a successful business with a company called Greenlife. Her daughter Rose is doing well in school and is acing her exams.
Marie-Soliel, Martin's current partner, separated from his ex-wife, is still passionate about him and loves his son Mathis unconditionally. It is a big happy family.
The truth is, these kids are happy. Behind the social media statuses, perfect family hashtags and big smiles is a family with many problems.
A problem with Rose at school is the catalyst for this unfolding drama, and the drama snowballs as the family spills their problems over the next hour. It soon becomes clear that there is a lot going on under the hood and these guys are just putting on appearances for friends and family.
The real driving force of this film, though, is the fractured relationship between Rose and her father, Martin. Her birth mother is on tour, so she barely has time to see her daughter. Unfortunately, Marie-Soliel is too busy with the misbehaving Mathis to pay much attention to her. So it moves naturally.
This fissure eventually turns into messy and dense verbal spitting hairs, as a small fissure soon turns into an abyss of despair.
While the film does a decent job of developing its themes (more on that in a bit), A Guide to the Perfect Family struggle.
Ending
It's actually a bit of an ambiguous ending and has conflicting opinions around what this movie is trying to say. On the one hand, this drama has a message that it's okay to be average. On the other hand, there is a theme around being the best version of yourself and following your dreams. It's a bit of a tonal clash to be honest.
Excellent Job
Although thematic, the film does an excellent job of showing the stresses faced by teenagers. As someone who failed all their exams at school (minus English), I felt like my world was ending. After all, teachers are telling you that your exams are the most important thing in the world. Of course they don't, but this film manages to capture that fear.
Plot Point
However, on that same note, The Perfect Family Guide never fully resolves this plot point, leaving it up to our imaginations to see what happens next. The film also briefly touches on substance abuse and parental expectations, but both are conveniently swept under the rug in favor of a more straightforward father/daughter relationship.
Where the film is more effective is Martin's journey to becoming a more attentive father.
As a true slice of life drama that shows the trials and tribulations of being a parent, The Perfect Family Guide is anything but perfect. It does a good job with its diverse characters, but the film complicates its ending and resolves multiple subplots. It's still an enjoyable watch though, but one can't help but feel like it could be more.