Saturday, March 28, 2020

Netflix Nuggets - Lock down recommendations

Since we all have a little more time to enjoy our streaming service subscriptions nowadays, I thought I'd share a few Netflix originals that we've particularly enjoyed. I say few, because the majority of original Netflix programming I find as unappealing and many in bad taste. But a few good ones slip through the cracks every so often. So here are the one's we particularly liked:

  • The English Game:  A recently released series set in 18th century England about the early days of soccer and the competition between the classes of the day. We've watched the first three episodes and really like it.
  • The Polka King:  Fact-based movie on Polish-born bandleader Jan Lewan who made it big in America in the 1960's, but spent time for drawing his fans into a Ponzi scheme. Labeled as a comedy, this very entertaining story stars the very entertaining Jack Black, who does a fantastic job as Lewan. I had never heard of Jan Lewan before viewing this. And after watching it, I couldn't believe the story was true. But it was.
  • Our Souls at Night:  A 2017 Netflix movie staring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda who play widowed neighbors who initially begin a platonic relationship to alleviate their loneliness, until a real romance begins. Very well written and particularly well acted.
  • Always Be My Maybe:  Reunited after 15 years, famous chef Sasha and hometown musician Marcus feel the old sparks of attraction but struggle to adapt to each other's worlds. Nice, light-hearted, clean romantic comedy. Ali Wong and Randall Park are very appealing in their roles as Sasha and Marcus.
  • Holiday in the Wild:  Another nice, clean romantic comedy, this one starring Rob Low and Kristin Davis. Davis plays a recently jilted single woman who decided to take the African safari trip that she and her ex were supposed to take together. There, she meets single tour guide Lowe. You can take it from there. Nice story though.
  • Murder Mystery:  2019 move with Adam Sandler, someone who I normally try to avoid, and Jennifer Aniston about a New York couple who scramble to solve a baffling murder aboard a millionaire's yacht during a long-waited European trip that directly involves them. Not the greatest murder mystery ever made, but it was entertaining brain candy.
  • The Christmas Chronicles:  Ok, probably not in the mood to watch this now, but keep it in the back of your head for the coming Christmas season, as it's one of the better Christmas/Santa Claus movies you'll see. Kurt Russell is fantastic as old St. Nick, who takes a couple of depressed kids who recently lost their father on a memorable Christmas Eve adventure.  Side note:  Netflix has another Christmas-based variety show called "A Very Murray Christmas" featuring Bill Murray that was pretty entertaining and worth checking out during the holidays as well.
  • The Crown:  A biography of Queen Elizabeth starting prior to her marrying Prince Philip and ultimately becoming Queen. Three seasons of are now available, with season 3 highlighting her reign in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Might be a little more attractive to the female audience, although the few I've watched with Amy were entertaining.
So there you go. I hope you're able to check some of them out and enjoy them. Let me know what you think in the comments below.  Happy viewing!