The Guide to the Perfect Family

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): July 14, 2021

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FlipjeJul 16, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Guide to the Perfect Family (Le Guide de la famille parfaite - written by Avard, Leger and Morissette and directed by Ricordo Torgi) is at best a mixed bag. There are some nice performances here, some touching moments, specifically with the father (Morissette) and daughter (Bierre) and a general, harsh commentary on the perils of over-parenting. While watching the film, I was reminded of other French Canadian cinema classics like The Barbarian Invasions and Decline of the American Empire (both by Denys Arcand). There is a melancholy satire to Arcand's work which was being replicated here. But while Arcand leaves you with a sense of pathos, the catharsis here was assuredly lacking. I felt more annoyed with these characters as the story 'evolved'. Morissette plays an upper-middle class type, decent, kind to his employees and colleagues and married to his second wife (Chabot). They have a son who is basically an irritant. Here we see the lack of parenting or discipline as this miscreant with a mouth and penchant for throwing objects at people's genitals and faces never once is punished for his monstrous behavior. In fact, the audience rarely if ever gets a chance to feel sympathy for Genevieve (the wife's name... which is rarely mentioned in the film). Otherwise, I watched the film an hour ago, and I cannot recall the father/husband's name. Rose (Bierre) is perhaps the most memorable character. Pressured to excel by her father, she resorts to cheating on her exams, while also experimenting in various drugs and medications to cope with the pressures of adolescence. As an audience we feel for her, yet we are never sure why the miscreant, Matthis gets away with his appalling behavior. Why is Morissette's father figure like this? It is never really properly explained or developed. When Rose is suspended, the drama goes up a notch or two with pouts and 'hate you' type-dialogue, meanwhile offering the audience little in the way of insight. Earlier in the film, we meet the father's own parents who on the surface seem fairly laid back and affable. However, they are basically there to offer the Boomer Generation's commentary on the Millenial's approach to parenting. They offer little in terms of story. Their characters are minimal. One would think when Morissette takes his daughter up to visit them in a bonding moment, the audience would gain some insight into his own childhood and upbringing. Nope. We see cottage country Quebec. There is a lovely lake and a canoe trip, during which we only learn that Morissette was passed over for a promotion and that he can be hypocritical in his role of a parent who wishes his daughter would spend less time on her devices. In summary, little truly happens in this film. Towards the end, Rose attempts to bond with her 'cool' mom, someone who eludes emotional responsibility and gallivants about like a university student. Feeling neglected by her fly-by-night mother, Rose falls deeper into depression and some predictable teenager self-pity territory is dredged up. By the end of the movie, I felt like I had learned little about everyone, and it didn't matter. There are hints that the father might improve himself though personally, someone could have swatted that little turd of a son. Call it a pet peeve, but I truly cannot stand parents who let their children run amok. With no real resolve, the movie suddenly ends. And with this being a satire, everyone walks away scathed and looking pathetic. Not a rewarding film and if you're aware of how ridiculous moms and dads are today with participation trophies and over-coddling, this movie only reminds you of that. No one really grows. Nothing is explained. Nothing seems to change. Life, the way I see it, is far richer and complex than the way this movie portrays it. Watchable.… Expand

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