After a somewhat rocky start, the quality ofNetflixOriginals has improved dramatically over the past four or five years. Rather than continuing to rely solely onbig name actorsto sell its movies, the company has seemingly shifted its attention towards attractingtalented writers and directorsas well. There are still the occasional duds here and there, but, on the whole, the results of this change in approach really do speak for themselves.
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10The Polka King (2017)
While not quite as captivating, Jack Black’s performance as polka band leader Jan Lewan inThe Polka Kingis at times a little reminiscent ofJim Carrey’s excellent portrayal of Andy Kaufman inMan on the Moon. Black really does capture the character’s essence while also mixing in elements ofhis own signature comedy stylings.
The writing can at times leave a little to be desired, but the plot is peppered with more than enough humor to warrant its “comedy” label and is interesting enough to keep viewers engaged for the full duration. The supporting cast also play their parts well, although they are perhaps overshadowed by Black a little too often. Given that this is a movie about Lewan andthe actor’s strong on screen presencethough, this shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to viewers.
9Tallulah (2016)
A movie about a young woman kidnapping a child from her mother may not scream comedy, but there are a surprising amount of laughs to be found inTallulah. There are also plenty of touching moments too though and these are made all the more poignant by the excellent acting performances throughout the movie.
Elliot Page plays the lead and is joined by Allison Janney for a third time. Much like inJunoandTouchy Feely, their characters are incredibly well realized and possess a level of depth that’s seldom seen in comedies. It’s beautifully shot too and although the dramatic elements of the narrative can at times choke out some of the comedy, it’s still a wonderful watch.
8Win It All (2017)
Jake Johnson’s performance as the recovering gambling addict Eddie Garrett inWin It Allis a strong one, although this is perhaps to be expected given that he co-wrote the movie’s screenplay. His regular writing partner Joe Swanberg also wears several hats, serving as the movie’s director and producer as well.
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Despite the comedic elements scattered throughout the movie, it provides great insight into the struggles that go hand in hand with gambling addiction and presents it all in a thoughtful and respectful manner. Eddie’s actions are all too often irresponsible and will likely have one or two viewers shouting at their screens in frustration. Such is the strength of Johnson’s delivery and the quality of the writing though, it’s pretty difficult not to like him and, as a result, the movie itself.
7The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
On the surface,The Incredible Jessica Jamesmight seem like a fairly generic rom-com and while it does retread a lot of the same ground asthose which came before it, it does so with a rather emphatic strut. The titular character oozes strength and is wonderfully portrayed by Jessica Williams and some of the supporting cast are equally eye-catching.
It’s funny, it’s thoughtful and it does a fine job of examining the difficulties faced by the modern generation when it comes to balancing their careers and their love-lives. None of this would be possible, however, were it not for the excellent script, nor the fantastic direction provided by James C. Strouse.
6Vampires Vs. The Bronx (2020)
Finding the right balance between comedy and horror is not always easy, butVampires vs. the Bronxreally manages to nail it for the most part. It feels a little like a cross betweenShaun of the DeadandThe Gooniesat times, with the bonds between the young teenagers really helping to draw viewers in and giving them a reason to care.
It’s a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously on the surface, which contributes a lot towards its overall charm. There are hints of underlying social commentary here and there, mind, although they’re perfectly woven into the narrative in a way that compliments the action rather than distracting from it.
5The 40-Year-Old Version (2020)
TheForty-Year-Old Versionmarks the directorial debut of Radha Blank and it is an incredibly impressive one. Despite what the title might suggest, this isn’t a sequel to Steve Carell’sThe 40-Year-Old Virgin, although it’s arguably just as funny; albeit in a very different way.
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The humor found throughout the movie is subtle at times, but bleeds through at all the right moments. The real focus, however, is on the creative struggle that Blank and many like her face and the numerous obstacles that must be overcome in order to achieve sustained success in a challenging and often unforgiving industry.
4Deidra & Laney Rob A Train (2017)
The strength of the bond between the two titular sisters is one ofDeidra & Laney Rob a Train’s biggest assets. This is far from all that movie has going for it though and is backed up by some strong writing, some great acting and some genuinely hilarious moments.
The desire to get her mother out of jail and keep her siblings from going into foster care drives Deidra to some pretty extreme lengths, although it never really feels out of keeping with her character. There are plenty of heartwarming moments as well as funny ones and a nice, albeit fairly on the nose, takeaway once all is said and done.
3I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2017)
I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymoreis at times a very dark movie. The observations it makes about modern life and gender norms can serve as a sobering reminder of the world’s imperfections, although they’re never really dwelt upon for too long. There’s also humor to be found in these reflections, although perhaps not the side-splitting kind that some may be looking for.
All of this is brought to life by a talented cast and a well-written script, although the latter is certainly not without its flaws. There are one or two moments when the narrative stumbles awkwardly, although it’s usually able to regain its footing pretty quickly whenever it does so.
2Tramps (2016)
Neither Grace Van Patten nor Callum Turner were particularly big names when the pair were cast as the leads inTramps. Their excellent performances, however, would perhaps suggest otherwise. It’s difficult to imagine how either could really have been bettered and it’s no surprise to see the pair moving on to bigger and better productions as a result.
Their talent is arguably wasted a little on this narrative, which, although deftly written, just never really gets going until the very end. It instead feels like a series of smaller moments that piece together to create a larger picture and, when viewed in this light, there is a certain beauty to be found. It’s funny in places too, although it picks its moments quite sparingly.
1The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
There’s perhaps an argument to be made thatThe Meyerowitz Storiesis not only the best Netflix Original comedy, but also the best Netflix Original period. Written and directed by the fantastic Noah Baumbach, it’s a movie that shouldn’t be missed; especially by those who are already paying for a Netflix subscription.
Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller and Emma Thompson are just some of the many big names to appear throughout the movie, with Sandler in particulardelivering one of his best ever performances. Baumbach’s writing offers up the perfect blend of humor and drama, while his ability to coax the best out of his talented cast is something that not all directors are capable of. Both he and the actors deserve a lot of credit; as too does the movie as a whole.
