Netflix is supposedly in the process of revamping its movie division — and, in particular, both the quality and the cadence of that division’s output. I’m sure we’ll see the results of all that change eventually, especially with a new executive in charge on that front, but we very much don’t seem to be there yet. I’ve struggled for a while now when it comes to new Netflix original movies to watch, nearly all of which have tended to veer from either boring to just outright bad films, a trend that unfortunately still holds true.
Quality control is always an issue when the biggest streamer in the world is releasing more TV shows and movies than any person could even think about watching. As a result, it’s no surprise to me that just two Netflix original movies have a spot on the Top 10 movies list in the US right now — both of which we’ll take a look at below.
Mother of the Bride
This first one is for those of you who think there aren’t enough forgettable rom-coms in the world. Coming in at #3 on the Netflix Top 10 US movies list right now is Mother of the Bride, starring Brooke Shields, Miranda Cosgrove, and Benjamin Bratt. Basically, Shields plays a mother whose daughter is marrying the son of her ex.
The movie is nothing special and pretty forgettable overall. It also has some pretty abysmal scores on both IMDb (4.9/10) as well as Rotten Tomatoes, where it has atrocious critics and audience scores (13% and 14%, respectively).
This one is sort of like the Netflix version of Muzak. Don’t waste your time.
Thelma the Unicorn
Next, we come to Thelma the Unicorn — an animated movie that tells a story about fame and farm animals, and which is #4 on the Top 10 list of Netflix movies today.
This one is based on the popular book series by Aaron Blabey, and it tells the story of a small-time pony named Thelma who has a big ambition: To one day become a hit musician. “And after a convenient visit from a glitter-and-paint trunk, she gets her wish — but is living as a unicorn really what Thelma wants? Voiced by Grammy award-winning artist Brittany Howard, Thelma sets out on a musical adventure that’ll have you tapping your feet (or hooves!) along with the beat.”
Co-directed by Lynn Wang and Napoleon Dynamite‘s Jared Hess, this is another one that’s not necessarily great, but at least it’s not bad. It’s feel-good, if a little trite, and you can also watch and enjoy it with the whole family.
