It seems like everyone in the world watched ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ last weekend. The Marvel movie made a ton of money, even though it was rated R and had more of the same multiverse hijinks that dragged down ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’. But not everyone enjoys superheroes in spandex or chimichangas. For those seeking something different, look no further. We’ve uncovered three underrated yet fantastic movies on Netflix guaranteed to entertain you this weekend. One is a new release starring acclaimed actors engaging in some seriously nasty exchanges, while the other two are older titles that have stood the test of time.
‘Wicked Little Letters’ (2024) premiered in the U.S. this past spring, and it’s already in danger of being forgotten. That’s a shame, as films like this – the small, charming English retro film – aren’t made as often anymore. Boasting a stellar cast including Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Timothy Spall, and Eileen Atkins, ‘Wicked Little Letters’ revolves around a brewing scandal in the sleepy seaside resort town of Littlehampton. Someone has been sending Edith (Colman), the town’s pretentious spinster, nasty messages through the mail. She immediately suspects Rose, considered an outsider due to her Irish background and lack of a husband and father for her child. It doesn’t help that the two women were once close but are now estranged. When Edith formally accuses Rose, she sets off a chain of events that not only exposes her own secrets but threatens to tear her idyllic town apart.
If you’re a fan of picturesque scenery, watching old men wear funny hats, accents, and hearing Colman utter some of the most vile profanities the English language has produced, then ‘Wicked Little Letters’ is for you. ‘Wicked Little Letters’ is streaming on Netflix.
‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015) Henry Cavill’s career is fascinating. Yes, he landed the coveted role of Superman in 2013’s ‘Man of Steel’, but like much of the DCEU, that gift ended up being a curse. The English actor also missed out on several key roles over the years, including James Bond. That’s one reason why director Guy Ritchie’s sly throwback ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ is so entertaining. It allows Cavill to showcase his innate charm and humor in a spy movie that prioritizes surface-level pleasures.
Based on the hit 1960s TV series of the same name, ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ centers on the uneasy Cold War alliance between CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer). They must assist Gaby Teller (Alicia Vikander), whose nuclear scientist father has been kidnapped by Nazi sympathizers to help build a secret nuclear bomb. The plot is intentionally absurd and vague, but it doesn’t matter, as the movie’s primary attraction lies in watching the three impossibly beautiful leads attempt to outwit and romance each other. ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ is streaming on Netflix.
‘Muriel’s Wedding’ (1994) You’d think a rom-com featuring the songs of ABBA would be as lighthearted and fun as belting out ‘Waterloo’ at karaoke night. And sure, ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ is charming and carefree, especially in the first half when it focuses on Muriel, a gawky young Australian woman, and her blossoming friendship with the sexually outrageous Rhonda. Both Muriel and Rhonda team up to find love, or maybe just a fling or two, and what’s more irresistible than that?
But what makes ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ so special, and why it holds so much power all these years later, is its willingness to delve into darker aspects. Muriel’s life isn’t perfect, and as we meet more of her family, we understand why she desperately wants to get married. As played by then-unknown Toni Collette, Muriel gradually emerges as a multifaceted character we genuinely care about. And when the movie ends, you’ll never hear ABBA the same way again. ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ is streaming on Netflix.
