Common Sense Media Review
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Language, partial nudity in disappointing romcom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Chosen Family
What's the Story?
CHOSEN FAMILY follows Ann (Heather Graham), a yoga instructor in Rhode Island who has a tough family life, including stress caused by her immature sister, Clio (Julia Stiles). Ann's love life isn't much better. But thanks to her friends (played by Thomas Lennon, Julie Halston, Andrea Savage, and Odessa Rae), Ann decides to try once more to find the love of her life.
Is It Any Good?
Even if you judge this romantic dramedy by Hallmark standards, it falls short. Chosen Family is boring, repetitive, and uninteresting. There are some good performances, especially by Lennon, Rae, and Halston— their characters are so engaging that you might find yourself wishing that the film was actually about them. Stiles also does her best to elevate the bare-bones character of Clio, Ann's immature and troubled sister. But "bare bones" is actually the most accurate way to describe everyone's character in this film; there isn't much to it, so it's not really worth the watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about empathy. How do Ann's friends in Chosen Family show her empathy regarding the issues in her life?
How do the dynamics in Ann's biological family compare to those in her chosen family? How do both compare to your own family relationships?
What does this movie have in common with romantic comedies from earlier decades? How is it different?
Do the characters experience emotional growth over the course of the movie? How does that affect your opinion of them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 11, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : October 11, 2024
- Cast : Heather Graham , Julia Stiles , Thomas Lennon , John Brotherton
- Director : Heather Graham
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Brainstorm Media
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 87 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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