With so many films coming out in theatres and streaming, it’s hard to get to everything when it’s released. So here’s our second of three catch-up posts on some of the Netflix Original comedy films released in 2018. These are rapid-fire reviews of Ibiza, Alex Strangelove and The Package.
IBIZA
Synopsis: A young American woman and her two best friends seek out a hot DJ in Spain. (Netflix)
Starring: Gillian Jacobs, Phoebe Robinson and Vanessa Bayer
Writer: Lauryn Kahn
Director: Alex Richanbach
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 94 mins
Trailer:
Ibiza is a raunchy roadtrip comedy that may have been a little funnier if you were on as much drugs and alcohol as the characters. While the sloppy story feels almost nonexistent and the character’s inability to make smart decisions can get infuriating, the charisma and chemistry of the cast paired with the collection of comedy cliches makes for a fun, albeit generic trip. It isn’t the next Bridesmaids or Girls Trip, but it’s a formidable entry into the gross girls genre.
Score: 5.5/10
ALEX STRANGELOVE
Synopsis: Alex, the high school class president, nerd and a straight A student, has been dating Claire a long time. They decide to sleep together but then he meets a gay guy and gets confused. (Netflix)
Starring: Daniel Doheny, Madeline Weinstein and Antonio Marziale
Writer: Craig Johnson
Director: Craig Johnson
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 99 mins
Trailer:
Alex Strangelove is an authentic coming-of-age rom-com that accents the brutal struggles of discovering one’s sexuality. While the story is predictable and cheesy, it feels personal and real thanks to the accuracy of its themes, the fun, flawed characters, its strong message and natural acting of its cast. It is a fun, lighthearted and emotional teen comedy that echoes the tone of a John Hughes classic.
Score: 7.5/10
THE PACKAGE
Synopsis: When four teenage friends go on a camping trip during spring break, an unfortunate accident sets off a race against time to save one’s most prized possession. (Netflix)
Starring: Daniel Doheny, Geraldine Viswanathan and Sadie Calvano
Writer: Matt Mider
Director: Jake Szymanski
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 94 mins
Trailer:
The Package is a vulgar teen comedy that unsurprisingly finds itself lost like a parcel with no postage. While one of the recognizable actors has some charm and steals every scene, the premise is somehow stretched into a feature length film filled with boring characters and a horribly executed script that’s packed full of terrible humour and laughable dialogue. It somehow manages to be worse than what is expected of the already abysmal Netflix comedy lineup.
Score: 2/10
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