Welcome to stream surfing, where movie reviews from your favorite streaming services are chosen at random. The concept involves selecting movies from six streaming platforms, three paid and three free, using a dice and a website called Just Watch for randomization.
In this episode, we review two films: Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas and The Workife. Let's dive in.
Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas hails from 2006, penned and directed by Scott Louu. The film centers on Bickford Schmeckler, a college student with a rather unusual book of 'cool ideas.' These ideas, when read, can purportedly alter one's perception of reality. Despite its unique premise and a strong cast, including Patrick Fugat, Olivia Wild, John Cho, and Matthew Lillard, the movie somewhat lacks in comedic impact. While the film ventured into voids of humor, these attempts weren't entirely successful, making the film more mid-tier than groundbreaking.
Moving on to the next feature, The Workife, released in 2019 and directed by Michael Fefeifer, tells the story of Shawn and his work dynamics with Jen, his new assistant. Although unsurprising in its development—a classic narrative of professional boundaries blurred by personal attraction—the film showcases the engaging charisma of Serena Vincent. Her performance alongside Elizabeth Hornoi adds to the crime-drama intrigue. Even with its predictable trajectory and made-for-TV aesthetics, the film offers enough entertainment, complimented by its engaging performances.
Concluding this stream surf, both films brought unique vibes from their streaming devices. While Bickford Schmeckler's Cool Ideas had innovative story elements, The Workife capitalized on dramatic potential, making it a fair watch in both comedy and crime-drama departments.