Streaming Review: "Uncoupled" (Netflix)

Neil Patrick Harris stars in the latest Netflix comedy, "Uncoupled."By: Christopher James

When Emily in Paris first premiered, The New Yorker coined the term “ambient TV” to describe the show’s mass appeal, despite a critical drubbing and the memefication of its protagonist by the public. It’s a show made specifically for people to not concentrate on. It’s just looney and lighthearted enough to make audiences feel good. However, once you peel back just one layer of the surface, you can’t help but laugh AT it, rather than with it.

Darren Starr, who gave us both Sex and the City and Emily in Paris, returns to Netflix for his new gay-centric comedy Uncoupled. It’s co-created by fellow lover of froth, Jeffrey Richman (Modern Family, Desperate Housewives). It seems like equality means the LGBTQ+ community also needs its own piece of “ambient TV.” Uncoupled is slick, watchable and fun. It’s also maddening, featuring characters that seemed to have been born yesterday on some fun house version of Manhattan. Much like Emily in Paris, the inanity is part of the charm.

If you turn your brain off, you can float down the lazy river of Uncoupled’s charms. For those that watch with a more discerning eye, they will either make fun of the proceedings or be turned off by some of the off-brand sharp notes that don’t hit quite right.

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Venice 2022: The "Tár" Tease and the Competition Lineup

by Nathaniel R

Cate Blanchett in TÁR

Most sites just give you a list of film titles but we always aim to provide you with more information which is one of the (several) reasons we're slower with the news! Over 50% of the competition titles at Venice this year come from just three countries: France, Italy, and the US and a lot of titles are connected to Netflix. Outside of those countries we get one film from Asia, one from the Middle East, two from South America, and two from UK/Ireland. If you include the Out of Competition titles there's more variety with Canada, Denmark, Ukraine, The Phillipines, and Estonia entering the chat.

After the jump a little bit about each of the 22 films competing for the Golden Lion, and a few of the Out of Competition films including the new Lars Von Trier. Plus that bewitching teaser to Tár, Todd Field's first film in 16 years...

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Streaming: Why doesn't "Persuasion" work?

by Nathaniel R

Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis star in "Persuasion"

Jane Austen's final completed novel Persuasion has been adapted to screen several times, but unlike her most famous novels, theatrical motion picture fame as eluded it. The latest non-theatrical screen adaptation, via Netflix this time, has met with such harsh reviews that we almost didn't watch it. Nevertheless the extremely alluring faces of Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding, and Cosmo Jarvis beckoned as did the reliable wit of Jane Austen herself. We gave in and pressed play. Unfortunately it's difficult to argue with the consensus this time around...

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Streaming: "Grace and Frankie" Walk Off Into The Sunset

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin say goodbye to "Grace and Frankie" after seven seasons on Netflix.By: Christopher James

Grace and Frankie was designed in a lab to be perfect comfort TV before bed. Living legends Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have delivered elevated TV-Land-without-censors gold for 94 episodes over seven seasons. Unfortunately, the time has come for our titular odd couple to say goodbye, making Grace and Frankie the longest running Netflix show of all time. 

Even after all this time, our favorite ladies have kept it fresh and fun until the very end. Grace and Frankie never set out to reinvent the wheel. However, they earn points for consistency as they keep things funny and emotional all the way to the bitter (and star studded) end. We’ll miss seeing Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin on our screens regularly. However, the show is charming and lighthearted enough to be the perfect rewatchable comfort food...

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Review: "Ozark" Comes to an End with Season Four

By Christopher James

Will Marty and Wendy Byrd's actions finally catch up with them in?I didn’t think Ozark would be my latest binge. The Netflix crime drama was well lauded by the Emmys, winning 3 awards from 32 nominations over its past 4 seasons. In many ways, it seemed like the saturation point for “prestige TV,” an ultra-serious thriller with movie stars brooding in barely lit rooms. From the episodes I watched for Emmy coverage, it seemed like my suspicions were confirmed. However, when doing a fresh binge, the show’s personality and verve shone through the murky cinematography. The pilot sums up the central conflict the best, Ozark is about the clash of two worlds: the upper class city finance family and the brash locals they undermine at their own risk.

It all comes to an end with the final seven episodes of season four, which just dropped on Netflix. As the poster claims, the end revolves around one question: can the Byrds officially go clean?

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