The Perfect Couple Review: Nicole Kidman, Ishaan Khatter-starrer whodunit is White Lotus on steroids

The Winburys are a rich family. In the words of wedding planner Mr Roger says they are “child sex racquets on a private Island rich” and “let's kill someone and get away with it” rich. Nicole Kidman plays Greer, the matriarch of the Winbury family whose three sons are all married or at the ripe age to tie the knot.

Abby (played by Dakota Fanning rocking a goth look) is Greer's sister-in-law. She describes Greer as a woman who has a stick up her ass. Greer makes Amelia (Eve Hewson) watch her carbs so she can fit into her wedding dress. Amelia is all set to marry Greer's son Benji (Billy Howle).

The Perfect Couple: Performances

The borderline psychotic family has drugs pills for breakfast as their help Gosia watches this travesty unfold in horror. Greer’s husband Mr Tag (Liev Schreiber) is described as DILF by women with Abby (his sister) claiming she might have “fucked him”. Ishaan Khatter is Shooter Dival, Benji’s best friend who Nicole Kidman sees like a son—spoiler warning: things get very Oedipal here.

The wedding comes to a halt as the police department uncovers a ‘floater’ (a dead body floating on water). An intimidating, ball-breaking detective Nikki Henry (Donna Champlin) is tasked with the murder Investigation. Balancing her abrasive approach is Chief of Police Dan Carter (Michael Beach). His daughter Chloe (Mia Isaac) who serves at the wedding is hiding a secret.

The Perfect Couple: Writing And Direction

What I loved about the six-episode Whodunit Is just how absolutely batshit crazy it is. We all want a show every once in a while that is hilariously unhinged, a show that pulls back no punches and goes absolutely apeshit crazy with its characters and their dynamics. The Perfect Couple fits the bill perfectly.

From the opening shot where the entire cast ironically dances to the song “We Are Criminals” to the ‘Eat The Rich’ commentary (delivered mostly through the servers and staff)—the show has major White Lotus energy but instead of being enigmatic and charmingly mysterious, its craziness is very on-the-face.

The Perfect Couple: What Works, What Doesn't

What worked the most for this critic was Greer. The most unlikeable character is used to comment on internalized misogyny. Greer unknowingly projects her trauma on Amelia. 29 years later—Tag and Greer are no longer the perfect couple. The writing makes Greer unlikeable and yet, somehow worth rooting for.

Besides internalized misogyny, what's also on display is toxic masculinity. Think the eldest son and father talking about how their wives have their nuts in a vise, all while passing inappropriate comments on the bridesmaids.

The final reveal of the murderer (you wouldn't see this coming) along with the revelation of Amelia's friend Merritt (Meghann Fahy) will leave you tying up all the loose ends and all the hints you may have missed earlier. Watch this Glass Onion-meets-White Lotus style murder mystery for some crazy, unhinged fun.

Star rating: 3.5 / 5 stars

All episodes of The Perfect Couple are now streaming on Netflix.