Nicole Kidman's Netflix show The Perfect Couple gets 'eye-rolls' from critics

Netflix drama The Perfect Couple starring Hollywood A-lister Nicole Kidman has made some critics roll their eyes at the show.

Its synopsis has lots of promise as the show opened with the glamorous wedding reception dinner but it takes a dark turn when a body washes up on the morning of the big day. The Perfect Couple is packed with great stars - not just Kidman who plays Greer Winbury, a best selling author and the mother of the groom. It also features Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning and Eve Hewson. The Netflix series is born from the 2018 novel with the same name by Elin Hilderbrand, known as a beach thriller read.

As a glossy thriller, having also landed Kidman as one of the main characters for the show, of course it lends itself to comparisons to HBO's successful series Big Little Lies in reviews from critics. However, this seemed to work against the show with one critic saying The Perfect Couple "fails to take off" after its attractive promotion trail.

All the stars have hit the red carpet to promote the series. There are six episodes now available to watch on Netflix after it landed on the streaming site on Thursday. It leaves you wondering, is it worth you investing your time in the latest Netflix drop? Take a look at what some of the UK's critics had to say about the picture-perfect series.

Read more

What to watch on Netflix in September 2024 from Emily in Paris to Uglies

Nicole Kidman was smart to move to TV

What critics say about The Perfect Couple

Evening Standard's Hayley Spencer didn't mind admitting the glossy Netflix drama made her roll her eyes and thinks fans will too. Spencer wrote: "You will eye-roll at times, but ultimately this series delivers on being an easy binge-watch in a much-loved genre. You will want to know whodunnit — and hope that one of these ungrateful poshos gets their comeuppance. Just don’t expect the next Big Little Lies."

After the gorgeous promotion trail, The Evening Standard felt the show "fails to take off". Spencer added: "As it plays out, the show fails to take off in the same style that the glossy promo shots would have you expect. Nicole Kidman’s performance is lacklustre (is this one wealthy, troubled wife role too many after Expats and The Undoing?), and the script often lacks the subtlety to match the talents of its big name stars. Though, in spite of the flaws, the well-timed twists and turns will help you sail through the episodes."

The Independent's Nick Hilton felt The Perfect Couple missed the opportunity to be a "biting satire" and as a result ended up feeling "daft". Hilton wrote: "Overall, it is as daft as it is derivative. The lifestyle pornography of Big Little Lies is given the Netflix treatment – with bolder colours and catalogue lighting – making Nantucket feel slightly less aspirational than it might. It is a series that doesn’t sit well with silences or slow character development, and the frenzied pace makes the non-linear timeline feel a bit scrambled."

The critic also felt some viewers would lose track. Hilton added: "Are we pre-death or post-death? Those watching on a six-inch iPhone screen might feel themselves losing track." Although the writer said the most fun the show has is the opening sequence.

Watch The Perfect Couple's opening dance

And the opening dance sequence was certainly caught the attention of Glamour's Stephanie McNeal. In fact, she admitted she "can't stop thinking about the opening sequence" dance. McNeal wrote: "It’s a sexy, salacious murder mystery set in a wealthy enclave that provides both an entertaining plot and tons of real estate porn...

"But the real draw of the show? Its completely nonsensical yet utterly delightful opening credits sequence. In the start of every episode, the entire cast—leads, supporting characters, and extras—perform a choreographed dance routine to an extremely catchy pop song during a rehearsal dinner before a wedding. Why? Extremely unclear."

The Guardian's Lucy Mangan loved the drama series calling it "ludicrously good". Mangan wrote: "The stage is set for us to have a ludicrously good time in the very doggest days of summer." Swept away by the stunning scenery, Mangan added: "It’s gorgeous to look at, it stars a 4,000-bedroom mansion on a beautiful stretch of US coastline and it’s packed with lavish lifestyles funded by fifth-generational wealth."

Meanwhile, The Telegraph's Benji Wilson called it "cliché-ridden whodunit is top-notch trash" but pointed out viewers may have found their "next binge-watch". Will you be watching?

The Perfect Couple is streaming now on Netflix.