The Perfect Family (2011)

Synopsis
"The Perfect Family" is a 2011 American Comedy-Drama film directed by Anne Renton and written by Paula Goldberg and Claire V. Reilly. The comedy-drama focuses on the life of a suburban mother and devout Catholic, Eileen Cleary, represented by Kathleen Turner, whose viewpoints and faith are tested when she is nominated for Catholic Woman of the Year at her regional parish.

Plot
At the start, Eileen Cleary appears to have it all - a love for her church and an exceptionally strong commitment to her faith. However, this faith ends up being a source of stress and battle when she is chosen for Catholic Woman of the Year, a respected church honor. The one condition for winning is to reveal the church judges that her family fully embodies Catholic worths.

Eileen is torn since her household doesn't fit within her church's narrow meanings. Her socially mindful child Shannon, portrayed by Emily Deschanel, is a lesbian engaged to her partner Angela, and will have their first kid. Meanwhile, her boy, Frank Jr., played by Jason Ritter, remains in the middle of an unpleasant divorce however is reviving an old affair. Additionally, Eileen's own marital relationship to her client hubby, Frank (Michael McGrady), is strained due to past infidelity concerns.

Character & Story Development
Throughout the movie, Eileen, under the weight of her desperate desire to win the award and her religious obligations, forces her kids to conceal their out-of-the-norm way of lives, causing familial disputes.

However, as the storyline progresses, Eileen's stiff beliefs start to crumble and she starts to question her church's rigorous mentors. Her beliefs are further put to evaluate when she finds that her good friend and competitor for the award, Agnes Dunn, represented by Sharon Lawrence, is living a double life of having a spouse and an enthusiast.

Conclusion
In the climactic church ceremony, Eileen lastly alters her understanding of the "best household". She publicly acknowledges her household's reality, expressing understanding and acceptance towards her children's lifestyle choices. Fed up with the church's stiff expectations, she certainly tells off Agnes and the evaluating committee for their hypocritical habits, and leaves the event, declining the Catholic Woman of the Year title. The movie ends with Eileen having a more tolerant point of view of her faith and developing a deeper appreciation for her imperfect household.

General Focus
The film is a progressive and thought-provoking comedy-drama that challenges traditional spiritual stereotypes and standards and highlights the importance of love and tolerance in familial relationships. It emphasizes the idea that no family is perfect and that embracing diversity within a household is essential. "The Perfect Family" is a nuanced evaluation of religious faith, the concept of perfection, the battles of acceptance, and the undisputed love of a mom for her children. Through its comical and significant aspects, the story offers the message of accepting oneself and the individuality of relative, even in the middle of the pressures of spiritual expectations.

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