Now on Netflix: When We First Met and Dismissed

When We First Met:

I’m a sucker for a good Netflix original. I should be more specific and say Netflix original series. Let’s be real– none of their original films have really been that great (I fell asleep in the middle of Bright). So when I saw they were coming out with a comedy staring Omaha’s hometown sweetheart, Adam Devine, I was skeptical but hopeful.

I can say for a Netflix original film, When We First Met exceeded my expectations. Noah (Devine) is placed in the irreversible friend zone by Avery, a girl he meets at a Halloween party in 2014. Flash forward to 2017 and she engaged to someone else while Noah is still trying to figure out what he could have done differently that night to make her fall in love with him.

In a very Tom Hank’s Big-esque way (mixed with a little bit of Groundhog Day), Noah finds himself in a magical photo booth that sends him back to that night in 2014 to relive over and over again until he can make Avery feel the same way he does.

When We First Met is light, funny, endearing and Adam Devine is the cherry on top. His charisma, facial expressions and dedication to comedy shines through, making this film extremely entertaining. Netflix finally got an original film right!

Dismissed:

When the trailer for this film first came out, people went crazy. I think everyone can enjoy a good psychological thriller, especially one that seems, well… crazy. Dylan Sprouse makes his return to acting after The Suite Life of Zach and Cody in a completely different role that really shows off how talented he is as an actor.

Dismissed is an indie film about Lucas (Sprouse), a perfectionist honors student with very high expectations for his grades, himself and everyone around him. He transfers to a new school where he meets his English teacher, Mr. Butler, who quickly takes a liking to Lucas and his overachieving qualities. After Lucas turns in a very thorough paper that Mr. Butler thinks only deserved a B+, things begin to go down a horrible rabbit hole.

I found several gaps in the storyline and some of the shots were odd to me but for an indie film, this one actually could be popular mainstream. Sprouse is intense but subtle in his execution of this character which makes him even more creepy and deranged. It’s not the best thriller I’ve ever seen but it definitely made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up a few times. Dismissed is on Netflix now!