The Perfect Family (2012)

48% of critics liked it
(31 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(3,179 ratings)

The Perfect Family stars Kathleen Turner as suburban mother and devout Catholic Eileen Cleary, who has always kept up appearances. When she runs for the Catholic Woman of the Year title at her local parish, her final test is introducing her family to the board for the seal of approval. Now she must… More The Perfect Family stars Kathleen Turner as suburban mother and devout Catholic Eileen Cleary, who has always kept up appearances. When she runs for the Catholic Woman of the Year title at her local parish, her final test is introducing her family to the board for the seal of approval. Now she must finally face the nonconformist family she has been glossing over for years... -- (C) Variance Films

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Anne Renton
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 4, 2012 Limited
On DVD: Jun 26, 2012
Studio: Variance Films

Critic Reviews

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic
It would be ripe territory for self-reflection if this sloppy debut from filmmaker Anne Renton weren't plagued with as much self-doubt and uncertainty as its lead Catholic.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
At the most fundamental level, as a work of entertainment, it fails. Scenes meander pointlessly, beginning and ending without any change or story movement.
Ian Buckwalter, NPR
The film's gentle, sentimental approach prevents it from ever really getting at the pain that's been swirling around this imperfect family for years.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
"The Perfect Family'' is Kathleen Turner's show. And when a series of crises forces Eileen to re-examine her values and beliefs, Turner rises magnificently to the occasion.
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
The film's single saving grace is Turner, who channels that legendary Catholic guilt like there is no tomorrow.
Stephen Holden, New York Times
[Turner's] performance is the deepest and truest element in this shallow feel-good movie about the clash between gay rights and Catholic orthodoxy in a generic suburban town...
Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
Turner is terrific, but The Perfect Family doesn't know quite what to do with her energy, eventually taking on so much surplus woe, there's no chance for a clean exit.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
A moving story of a woman's attempt to keep pace in a world that's moving too quickly for her.
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
A leaden, ham-fisted affair that was exactly the sort of pap John Waters was spoofing when he cast Turner as a serial-killing soccer mom.
Perry Seibert, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Hollywood generally avoids religion whenever possible. The Perfect Family, a sweet and touching indie comedy-drama, tackles the subject head-on without offending or alienating anyone.
Brent Simon, Shockya.com
A resolutely middle-of-the-road affair that never locates and communicates a very persuasive reason for its existence, or even a compelling dramatic throughline. A cinematic 'meh' if ever there were one.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
Religion butts heads mercilessly with romance in this ironically titled dysfunctional family values dramedy. But the premeditated plot points are simply too blatantly stacked against traditional matrimonial tribes, in favor of idealized same sex unions.
Susan Granger, SSG Syndicate
In this dramedy, Kathleen Turner is sincerely sympathetic, as faith triumphs over religion.
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
This often amusing pro-gay comedy delivers a dysfunctional family and religious orthodoxy in extremis with a bright cast headed by a droll Kathleen Turner.
Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine
The trailers make it look like an irreverent, iconoclastic satire; in fact it's dramatic - when it isn't dull and obvious.
Robert Levin, amNewYork
The movie teeters on the edge of caricature, but Kathleen Turner keeps it grounded and relatable.
Diego Costa, Slant Magazine
An anodyne tale of family-centered acceptance that's neither comical when it wants to be nor touching when it strivers for pathos.