Chosen Family review – fluid directing by Heather Graham ballasts enjoyable romcom
For younger readers not well versed in last-century cinema, Heather Graham was one of the hottest ingenues in Hollywood throughout the 1990s; her greatest performance was arguably as Rollergirl in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights. Recently, she's taken up writer-director duties (she made her debut in 2018 with a comedy called Half Magic) while continuing to star as well, and this sophomore effort impresses with its mildly acidic observations of contemporary mores. There aren't exactly belly laughs in this tale of single yoga instructor Ann (Graham), but quite a few of zingers and bits that stick the landing nicely thanks to fluent direction and good comic timing from Graham and her excellent supporting cast, which is filled out by cracking actors who might not often be given as much spotlight as they get here.
That's entirely fitting given that the plot, as the title might suggest, is all about the greater value of the friends and loved ones you make throughout life as opposed to the toxic monsters you're saddled with at birth. In Ann's case, that pretty much goes for her whole nuclear family, from zealous Christian wingnut dad (Michael Gross) and narcissistic mom (Julie Halston) to her admittedly damaged but still totally vile sister Clio (Julia Stiles, having fun sinking her teeth into the role). Graham's script perhaps makes Ann just a bit too nice and a co-dependent martyr to these nightmare people.
However the plot moves along when a video of her letting off steam and denouncing all of her relatives in an angry rant (while wearing a bikini) goes viral, thereby boosting business. Meanwhile, she's got charming buddies, including sharp-tongued Roz (Andrea Savage), chef Max (Thomas Lennon) and polyglot Frances (Odessa Rae) who are close enough friends they don't mind telling her the truth when necessary. The fizzy group chemistry is palpable every time the gang gets together on screen.
That honesty is sorely needed when Ann starts dating Steve (John Brotherton), a lovely bloke who's kind, mostly stable, and great in bed. The 'but' comes in the shape of his preteen daughter Lilly (Ella Grace Helton, tremendous), a spoiled, manipulative psychopath in a ballet school tutu who feels threatened by Steve loving anyone apart from her. While contemporary narrative grammar might lead viewers to expect fireworks from the ending, it is instead a little anti-climactic – but all the more realistic for that. It results in a film that feels like the product of lots of therapy, meditation and – judging by Graham's still impressively svelte physique – lashings of yoga. Good for her, she deserves a bit of success after all the dross she had to do for the money over the years.
Chosen Family is on digital platforms from 21 April
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Heather Graham, 55, stuns with busty age-defying display in VERY revealing bikini during wild beach outing
Heather Graham sent temperatures soaring during a sizzling beach outing in Sardinia on Friday. The Austin Powers bombshell, 55, looked half her age as she flaunted her flawless figure and youthful glow while frolicking in the surf and sand of the Mediterranean hotspot. Rocking a skimpy red two-piece, the ageless beauty channeled her iconic Boogie Nights days —looking like she hadn't aged a day since playing sexy Roller Girl back in 1997. At one point, she dove into the crystal-clear water like she was posing for a swimsuit calendar shoot. Later, she slipped on a wide-brimmed sunhat and showed off her pert derriere while lounging in the sand. Graham's sun-soaked getaway comes just months after she set the internet ablaze with envy by sharing photos from a luxe yoga retreat at Souk Studio in Tulum, Mexico. The images showed the Wisconsin native, who is the daughter of a retired FBI agent and children's books author, posing in various string bikinis on her spiritual getaway. 'You look [fire emojis],' one fan commented under the post. Another gushed: 'My every day crush for 20 years running and still as spectacular as the first time I laid eyes upon her.' Other raved that she 'hasn't aged a day' and looked 'beautiful.' Over the years, she shared a few tricks to her age-defying looks, including her 'obsession' with yoga, sugar-free diet and up to 12 hours of sleep a night. 'I'm obsessed with yoga,' she also told Refinery29 previously. 'For fun, I would go on a yoga retreat and do four hours of yoga a day. Then I do Pilates.' During that interview, she also insisted that her restrictive diet just makes her 'feel a lot better.' 'I do eat sugar sometimes, but as a broad rule, I try to just eat no sugar basically,' she explained. 'And I will sometimes eat things with white flour, but I try to avoid white flour.' Similarly, the actress told The Independent in 2013 that she had largely stopped consuming alcohol, adding: 'I'm kind of goofy enough to have fun without drinking.' In 2016, she told The Guardian that getting some serious shut eye was her 'guilty pleasure' and that most people are 'horrified' to learn she rests 'nine and 12 hours a night.' Sleep is often considered a natural way to combat signs of ageing such as wrinkles and sagging because this is when new collagen is produced. Graham was also keen to stress that once a week she 'spends a day luxuriating in bed.' Her other tricks include moisturizing her 'whole body' and face and getting massages. The sultry snaps come after Graham called out sexism in Hollywood and in society in a recent interview. 'I think, culturally, there is definitely a message out there that keeps telling us, "Women feel bad about yourself!"' she explained to NewBeauty magazine. Graham went on to add: 'It seems like there's no age where we're really allowed to feel good about ourselves - except for maybe a very short window.' Over the years, she shared a few tricks to her age-defying looks, including her 'obsession' with yoga, sugar-free diet and up to 12 hours of sleep a night 'The rest of the time we're supposed to feel like, "I'm too young or I'm too old,"' she said. But, the Austin Powers star has found a way to deal with the frustration and remain happy and peaceful. 'I have to unplug from the culture, which is a patriarchal way of looking at things, and to affirm myself and be happy and grateful for what I do have,' she revealed. 'The older I get, the pickier I am about the energy I want around me,' the Scrubs alum told the outlet. 'I want loving, supportive people by my side. When I was younger, I was always seeking out the difficult, dramatic, complicated people. At some point, I realized that is exhausting.' Age has brought wisdom and clarity to the Extrapolations actress. 'Now, I try to have people that are supportive in my circle... You have to be with the people that really celebrate you.' The performer achieved widespread fame after landing her role as Rollergirl in the 1997 cult classic Boogie Nights. Her other most notable film credits include From Hell, Bowfinger, The Hangover, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, The Rest of Us, and On a Wing and a Prayer. She's also appeared on the TV series, Scrubs, Californication, Twin Peaks: The Return, and The Last Son.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Meghan will see sex assault claims against best pal Tyler Perry as SO toxic – watch her drop him, experts slam
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MEGHAN Markle will cut off her friend Tyler Perry over his sexual assault allegations, experts claim. Perry previously let Harry and Meghan stay at his $18 million Beverly Hills mansion after they quit royal life. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Tyler Perry was accused of sexual assault and harassment by a fellow actor Credit: Getty 3 In 2020, Perry let Harry and Meghan stay at his $18 million LA mansion Credit: Google Earth 3 Experts believe Meghan will cut Perry off to protect her image Credit: Getty He is also godfather to the couple's daughter Lilibet - which royal expert Hugo Vickers believes reflects a strong friendship. Earlier this week Tyler Perry was sued for sexual assault and harassment by fellow actor Derek Dixon, which Perry's team has denied as "a scam". Now, royal experts believe Meghan will turn her back on her former friend amidst a sexual assault claim. Speaking on The Sun's Royal show, expert Samara Gill has suggested that the allegations against Perry could damage the Sussexes' brand. Samara said: "There's nothing very Christian about a sexual assault claim and I think it's just one other damaging thing to add to their now-war chest of things that have been a problem for them." She added: "I think it shows the type of people that Meghan likes to surround herself with and I think it is damaging to their brand yet again because he was meant to be their closest friend." Samara also pointed out that the couple had made the most of Perry's wealth - including his home, and his plane - when they left the royal family in 2020. Now though, she thinks the couple will be keen to distance themselves from the alleged abuser. She added: "Just watch how quickly they go." Samara criticised the couple's hypocrisy, as they cut off toxicity "even though they're the ones who are really toxic." It's part of a pattern of behaviour that Samara said reflects their eagerness to use people before throwing them aside. Meghan's kids will be SO angry when they grow up & realise how they were used by her Perry previously let the couple stay in his $18 million LA home after they left the UK in 2020. At the time, he spoke on Today with Hoda and Jenna about his decision to let them stay at the lavish property. Perry said: "It was a very difficult time for them. What I know about the two of them, and I wish the world knew, how much these two people love each other." More recently, Tyler appeared in the Meghan's new Netflix show. Earlier this week Tyler Perry was sued for sexual assault and harassment by fellow actor Derek Dixon. The lawsuit claims $260 million in damages for harassment that occurred over several years. Dixon alleges that Perry repeatedly sent sexually suggestive texts, despite Dixon making it clear he wasn't interested. This later progressed to Perry groping Dixon in July 2021, the lawsuit alleges. Finally, Dixon filed a complaint with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024, before leaving his role in The Oval. Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Perry, gave the following statement to PEOPLE. He said: "This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam. "But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Wales Online
Jay Slater and Nottingham attacks documentaries to air on Channel 4
Jay Slater and Nottingham attacks documentaries to air on Channel 4 he Disappearance Of Jay Slater will follow the story of the youngster who went missing in Tenerife Jay Slater's disappearance captured the nation last summer (Image: Supplied ) A documentary about British teenager Jay Slater, who died last year, and another about the 2023 Nottingham attacks are among the new factual programmes due to air on Channel 4. The Disappearance Of Jay Slater will follow the story of the youngster who went missing in Tenerife in 2024 and was found later dead, with exclusive access to film Mr Slater's post-mortem and funeral. The crew behind the documentary have been making it in collaboration with Mr Slater's family, with the programme also set to look at the conspiracy theories that stemmed from the story, the online abuse that the family still receive and the media coverage of the story. Rita Daniels, Channel 4 commissioning editor, said: "The story of Jay Slater captured the nation last summer with a fervour and intensity fuelled by armchair detectives and internet culture. "We are so glad to be working with Anna on a sensitively handled exploration of the family's experience, and understanding the impact of being in the middle of a social media storm, amplified by grief. "The film holds a light up to our current society and is exactly the story that is a necessity for Channel 4 to tell." Article continues below Produced by Candour Productions, it will also look at the world of online armchair detectives and the consequences of their actions. Another Channel 4 documentary, The Nottingham Attacks, will follow the families of Ian Coates, Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who were killed in a fatal knife attack by Valdo Calocane, a man who was known to police and mental health services, in 2023. The 90-minute show, produced by Banijay UK's documentaries label, DSP Films, will look at the families' campaign for truth and justice following the killings, and the way their confidence in the NHS and police was impacted by the incident. Anna Miralis, Channel 4 senior commissioning editor, said: "Channel 4 has an outstanding reputation for bold, topical and incredible access documentaries and The Nottingham Attacks is without doubt testament to this. "Boasting a stalwart of incredibly talented filmmakers, I am sure this will be an extremely powerful and sensitively considered documentary. "This is a vital and timely piece of storytelling of an appalling crime and will highlight the unimaginable impact it had on these remarkable families and show their unwavering desire to expose the truth." The channel is also due to release a documentary, produced by Passion Pictures, on the crimes of John Smyth, a senior figure at a Christian charity, who inflicted abuse on as many as 130 boys and young men. His crimes began in his family home and escalated over decades and across continents until he was eventually revealed by church insiders, with a review finding his crimes were covered up by senior church officials. Ms Miralis added: "This important film, made by a team of remarkable documentary makers, demonstrates the Channel's unflinching commitment to tackle difficult subject matter and provide the opportunity to those who have been silenced to speak out and share their experiences. Article continues below "This is the deeply disturbing story of a man who was able to escape culpability and evade justice, and pays tribute to the courage of those deeply affected. Passion has worked hard to build trust and ensure incredible access." The release dates for the standalone shows have not yet been announced.
