It includes meeting with friends, waiting for miracles, and family evenings. It seems that you've already started cozy winter movie nights, but you haven't reached 'Harry Potter' and other 'must-see' movies yet.
Related topics: The most popular films & series of the past week
In the top 10 of German Netflix for the last week, two movies that can lift your spirits made it. These are the new release "Best. Christmas. Ever" and the 2018 film "Instant Family." Let's take a closer look at these comedies.
Best. Christmas. Ever.
At first glance, there's an odd combination of a writer and a director here. Charles Shyer wrote scripts for the 'Father of the Bride' duology with Steve Martin and several other light comedies. Mary Lambert, on the other hand, directed "Pet Sematary," "Black List," "Arrow," and much more, none of which falls under the category of "comedy."
However, the combination turned out surprisingly successful.
The film strikes a good balance between serious and funny without leaning into crude humor. It's about an hour and a half of amusing confrontation between two friends, one inclined to boast, and the other wanting to reveal her imperfections. One is obsessed with exposing the bragger, while the other hides the true situation behind a shiny facade.
Husbands are also drawn into the story, making some situations even more absurd. All of this happens in a New Year's setting, under the Christmas tree, and with an overall vibe of "summing up the year." In the end, the viewer realizes that there's really no need to expose them.
A certain part of the film's success definitely depends on the cast—Heather Graham and Jason Biggs play two halves (in different couples).
They are accompanied by:
- Brandy Norwood (from the series "Queens," "Star");
- Matt Cedeno ("Roswell," "Ancient," "Devious Maids").
There's definitely chemistry between the characters, and it seems like they had a fun time on the set.
Instant Family
The director, Sean Anders, worked on the screenplay himself.
His hit 'We're the Millers' is familiar to many, and that's an immediate sign of quality, a guarantee of a fun time. The film is five years old, but it seems that over this time, it has become kinder, and the issues it raises are more 'eternal.'
Interestingly, the screenplay is based on the director's own experience, dealing with adoption problems and building relationships with children. In the film, a childless couple decides to adopt three children at once, and this experience can't be described as dull.
Two sisters and a brother, one of the girls a teenager with typical adolescent problems, find themselves in a new situation. After all, no one had ever accepted all of them into a family before, and they already have a family, albeit a small one.
The story is also amusing because the couple (Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne, two excellent actors with comedic potential) is also renovating their house at the same time.
About the actors: Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro play their adoption counselors, and there are many familiar faces in supporting roles. Of course, the film portrays a somewhat polished picture, and in real life, the challenges of adoptive parents are much tougher, but after all, why do we watch comedies in the end?
Verdict
An excellent choice for a family evening when you just need to relax in front of the screen with the whole family. A cozy blanket, popcorn, and a good mood are guaranteed to you.
Related topics:
After watching the top movies on Netflix, you might want to continue your cozy winter movie nights with some cinematic classics like 'Harry Potter'. These movies can be great family entertainment, offering enchanting stories and memorable characters.
Speaking of family-friendly films, 'Instant Family' is a heartwarming comedy that could be your next choice. Full of humor and emotional depth, it's a delightful film that's sure to bring laughter and tears to the whole family.
