Netflix Original Movies Reviews
I've been filling some of my recent free time with catching up on some Netflix material I'd been meaning to see. Once I realized how much of it was composed of their original content, I focused in on their movies. In short, some are good and some are terrible. Below are my thoughts on what I've watched.
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Based on a YA novel I had actually never heard of, this is the movie I've been telling everyone to watch. Lara Jean is too afraid to share her feelings with her crushes so she writes them letters. The letters get sent and she has to deal with the consequences. So. Much. To. Love. The boys aren't stupid caricatures. The young lead isn't flighty nor does dangerous things. The featured parent is loving, involved and smart (and played by the still delicious John Corbett). The romance develops as the characters actually get to know each other by (gasp) spending time talking and sharing their feelings. If you aren't a little in love with Peter Kavinsky by the end of this movie, you are dead inside.
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
This was one of our book club selections several years ago and I think this was a great adaptation. The action switches between 1946 (their current time) and the war years as the island of Guernsey was under German occupation (the only part of England that was - trivia winning knowledge right there). Author Juliet Ashton and Guernsey resident Dawsey Adams strike up a pen pal relationship which intrigues Juliet enough to travel to Guernsey and discover the painful story of the war years and the story of Elizabeth, the one person from the occupation who is missing. My only negative is that they didn't develop Juliet and Kit's relationship very well and that was a key part of the book. Well worth watching, though.
The Week Of
Well, it's Adam Sandler so it's got a 100 of his friends and family acting in it (seriously, check out the credits) but it was actually an OK film. Sandler plays the father of the bride who's determined to pay for everything for the wedding even thought he can't afford to and Rock is the super rich father of the groom and fish out of water in the bride's middle class world. Hijinks ensue, jokes are overplayed and Sandler gets in drag as a character because he does that. Mostly mindless fun and had some sweet moments.
Set It Up
Two personal assistants in NYC decide to get their bosses hooked up so they can get some time off. The manipulations were a little creepy if you thought about it too much but the two leads were fun together, seemed like real people and developed an actual friendship. Lucy Liu and Taye Diggs were given quite stereotypical characters to play but at least Liu's showed some redeeming characteristics. I wouldn't recommend putting it on the top of your list but it's worth watching if you're just looking for some light entertainment.
Game Over, Man!
Do you love dick jokes? Watch this movie. Do you like a reasonable plot, interesting characters and actual humor? Don't watch this movie. Ugh - I want to sue to get my lost time back.
Like Father
Workaholic bride gets left at the alter and, after a night of binge drinking with her estranged father, takes him on her honeymoon cruise. Somewhat predictable but Bell's character does undergo a needed transformation and Grammer was quite good. Very nice supporting cast, too.
When We First Met
This is the Adam Devine type of role I like. After spending a gloriously perfect evening with Avery, Noah gets friend zoned. Flash forward and, after a cringe inducing drunken stunt at Avery's engagement party, Noah finds a magical way to go repeatedly back in time to the day they met. He then tries every which way to get Avery to love him. Sweet and funny and a truly enjoyable rom-com.
Father of the Year
Holy crap, this is bad. Unlikeable characters doing inexplicable things. A couple of laughs but not nearly enough to make this worth watching.
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