Gone are the days of scrolling mindlessly through your queue! No longer will you have to sift through the vastness of what’s coming to the instant viewing wastelands this month! Whether you’re looking for a stellar film or an exciting new show to binge, Instant Picks of the Week brings you the hottest releases in film and television on instant viewing platforms that we know you’ll love, or at the very least not despise.
LOVE (Netflix)
LOVE, starring Paul Rust and Gillian Jacobs, is another drop in the school of modern, serialized comedic dramas of lightly existential, middle class navel-gazing. While it feels familiar, creators Paul Rust and Lesley Arfin bring interesting perspective to modern relationships. The expectations of the significant other make for tragic and focused character study, elevated by cute and personable performances. Executive Produced by Judd Apatow, LOVE makes for a great sister show to Netflix’s MASTER OF NONE. They’re on opposite coasts, and LOVE is more Richard Linklater (SCHOOL OF ROCK tier) while the former is Woody Allen, but LOVE has fresh offerings, despite a familiar shell. [Rocky Pajarito]
DOPE (Netflix)
When most people think “indie movie,” something like DOPE is usually the first thing to come to mind. While decidedly quirky in that kind of “indie” way, DOPE brings a little more to the table than some of its twee teen comedy counterparts. Geeky Malcolm strives to get into college by any means necessary, and his efforts take him from gang-affiliated parties to the recesses of the infamous Deep Web and more. This fast-paced venture into “The Bottoms” ‒ the toughest part of Inglewood ‒ boasts not only a punchy social message, but also all the 90s hip hop you can handle. Peering through this open window to the inner city high school experience will be enlightening and heartwarming for everyone, with plenty of laughs and thrills along the way. [Kate Brogden]
