Series Review: Insatiable

"Being skinny, don't mean sh*t if you are ugly on the inside" is probably the best thing to come from the Netflix Original series "Insatiable" -which I am probably dropping from my #NowWatching list (I officially gave up on episode 6) but just continued watching so my review will have some merit. 

The dark comedy from 'Dexter' producer Lauren Gussis tries to be relevant and earn "woke points" by having an overweight lead character who deals with themes like body image and bullying. The show having a racially diverse and queer cast but they seem to be doing more harm than good as they present a plot wherein the female lead, Patty Bladell (Debby Ryan) -who used to be overweight; can only be happy if and when she becomes thin. She loses the weight by punching a homeless guy who was trying to take her chocolate, breaks her jaw and goes on a liquid diet for a number of months. 

The show manages to make fun of religion, sexual identity, body image, Southern society, statutory rape, molestation, adoption, pageants and honestly, abortion and honestly every topic under the sun. 

Patty says: "Now that I'm thin; its my turn to get the guy"  

I actually know of couples wherein the cute boy next door goes for the chubby girl. There is such a thing as "chubby chasers" you know and its disappointing to think that the boys in the series only take a second glance at Patty now that she's thin and pretty but wouldn't have given  her the time of day before. 

Now that Patty is thin, all that she wants to do is to get revenge on all those people who ever made fun of her but she ends up just hurting everyone around her. She is a selfish character with no redeemable quality whatsoever. Its so hard to root for her, when all that she thinks of is herself. 

When the trailer dropped I didn't that there was a lot of backlash with the possible fat shaming that the show will be projecting. It got so bad that there was even a call to cancel the show and probably Netflix should have. 

With the backlash from the series, Netflix has defended it saying that it is all 'satire' but the thing with satire is, in order for it to work, it has to be intelligent, your audience must be in on the joke, you must be winking at them and they should be laughing with you and with "Insatiable" trust me - no one is laughing. 

The characters are all annoying, they are all selfish and seem to live in their own bubbles, its so suffocating that they all seem to run circles around each other, as if their small town in Georgia is the smallest place on earth. They all seem to all have done some twisted, sick, unforgiving thing to each other. 

One of the few things that I liked about the show was the relationship of Patty's pageant coach Bob Armstrong (Dallas Roberts) and his social climber wife Coralee (Alyssa Milano). Yes, they both are weird in their own insatiable needs, him to  be the best pageant coach and her to be the ultimate Southern socialite but they are both partner in crimes who love and support each other, until the show ruins it. 

Also, all the parents in this show seem to allow their children to run wild and do as they please and alright just abandons them. No wonder these kids are so confused and just keep finding themselves in one bad situation after another.  I hate how the show leaves so many plots hanging and unexplored. Its as if the writers are just throwing everything at the wall and trying to see whatever will stick. 

3/10. Given that the finale was a cliff hanger-I am curious about what will happen next but not out of concern for Patty that's for sure. You just never get to like her to care about her. If the series survives another season, they should think of a major overhaul. 

Movie Review: To All the Boys I've loved Before

Not having read the book, I dismissed "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" (which will henceforth be known as "To All the Boys"...)  as a Young Adult Romantic novel with not much to offer. The title itself is a mouthful and just oozing with the kind of cheesy cheap romance plots found in paperback books. 

Netflix's adaptation of Jenny Han's book though had a very promising trailer, which featured a rather interesting plot. Wallflower and romance novel (the bodice ripping type) fan Lara Jean (Lana Condor) writes (very descriptive) love letters when she has a crush so intense, she doesn't know what else to do. These are kept safe, in a special box, teal in color, with a big bow on top of it (of course). 

Lara Jean's world turns upside down when "the letters are out" -meaning they somehow got mailed to those five intimate crushes that she's had. Now, Model UN and summer camp crushes didn't get their letters but what could she possibly do when her older sister's ex (Josh) and her former friend, now popular girl in school's boyfriend (Peter) get their letters? 

In order to avoid confronting Josh and hurting her sister, Lara Jean strikes up a bargain (with a contract and everything of course) with Peter to be fake boyfriend-girlfriend. Peter on the other hand wants to make Gen (his bitchy on/off girlfriend) jealous. 

So what could possibly go wrong-right? 

Netflix seems to be hitting it with Rom-Coms this year (with the surprise success "Set It Up") and its refreshing to have one set in High School and still have it very PG. Its cool, you can watch it with your parents. I really miss those rom-coms back in the 90s that were set in High School ("10 Thing I Hate About You", "She's All That", "Clueless", "Never Been Kissed") albeit it didn't follow the whole characters from stereotype groups formula. Another thing I loved about "To All The Boys" -it also focused on family; the relationship of Lara Jean with her sisters is something to be jealous of. I myself am a part of a tres Marias, I depend on them a lot and I would like to think that they depend on me too. There was a subtle nod to Lara Jean's Korean roots (Hello Korean Yogurt, we all know as Yakult) it wasn't overplayed and I loved her Dad (John Corbett) who was super cool, even if he's a gynecologist its weird Dad. 

There is much talk about Lara Jean's mom who passed away, how they tiptoe around their dad when it comes to him trying to recreate her cooking and how they all miss her and how they each go through a different sort of grieving and healing and I appreciated that. Since I also lost my Dad at a young age, I could really relate to the characters on screen. 

The film also alludes to its Rom-Com roots like "Sixteen Candles" (and "Fight Club") which is a super plus, plus for me. :) 

Praise must be given to director Susan Johnson's visuals which translate perfectly in the movie, from Lara Jean's teal colored room, to the beautiful pink cherry tree in one scene and her very modest outfits (those boots are killer).  

Props on  the representation of the cast, from the lead herself, an Asian starring in a romantic comedy and she's not even your usual stereotyped Asian, she's not skin thin, she's actually a bit on the plump side and looks damn good. There was no mention of her being a straight A-student, because not all Asians are bookish and studious you know? 

There is also a gay character, who I will not be naming as it will spoil a plot in the movie. All I can say is he wasn't your typical gay character and it was nice that he turned out to be a surprise confidant of Lara and also, who can say no to Korean face masks? 

Lana Condor plays the part of the quiet female lead on point, she is that beautiful wallflower, much like Leigh Nash in "She's All That" minus the make over, because 'our girl doesn't need it' with a mix of Drew Barrymore's literature obsessed geekness in "She's Never Been Kissed".

Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) is that dreamy hunk that could give you butterflies in your stomach (very Freddy Prinze Jr.) I was so 'kilig' (giddy) with the chemistry of the two that I wanted to wake my sleeping son and give him a tight, tight squeeze. 

9/10 -minus a barreling third act, "To All The Boys" made me laugh, it made me cry. It made me feel giddy all over. All checks for a highly recommended High School Rom-Com. 

I haven't read the book so I couldn't compare the two or give more insight, now that I've seen and loved the movie, I will definitely be reading the book. Oh, I might have failed to mention that its based on the YA novel of the same name by Jenny Han. 

 If you have a copy and you're willing to sell yours, I'm willing to buy. Or if you trust me that I will return it (I will)-you can lend it me. Send me a message. 

"To All the Boy's I've Loved Before" is now streaming on Netflix. 

Review: Lost In Space (Netflix)

Molly Parker as matriarch and aerospace engineer Maureen Robinson and
Toby Stephens as former U.S. Navy SEAL John Robinson, 

I'm not one to complain about remakes or reboots, especially if its a story or a franchise I haven't had the chance to sink my teeth into. So I welcomed with open arms, Netflix's latest re-imagining of  the 1960's family science-fiction series "Lost In Space". Which is also a re-imagining of the classic novel "The Swiss Family Robinson", which I haven't read yet, I don't know if I ever will but its a nice little trivia to know. 

Having established that I have yet to read or know anything about the original material, to which the series is based on, I had no idea what to expect and its a nice treat going in. Told following a general plot with some flashbacks here and there, Netflix's "Lost In Space" is a refreshing family adventure science fiction, where its cool to be the smartest person in the room, where the younger characters in the story are used to their full potential. Its great that they are not just emotional, angsty teenagers who sulk in a corner but who actually contribute knowledge, expertise and think in the story. 

Much of the series' success should be credited to the strong family unit (The Robinsons) and to each of the characters who make up the family. As well as the impressive costume and production design which makes you feel like you are watching a big budget movie. You really do feel like you are on a beautiful and dangerous alien planet, where the flora and fauna will easily kill you. 

Parker Posey as Dr. Smith, a sociopath who uses and manipulates the Robinsons to ensure her own survival. 

After a celestial object crashes into the earth, threatening the survival of humanity, the process of colonizing a new world, known as Alpha Centauri begins. The Robinson family is among the few chosen for the 24th mission to the Resolute, a spacecraft which carries chosen families to colonize Alpha Centauri. However, before they reach their destination, an alien robot attacks the Resolute, which forces some of the families to escape and crash land to a nearby habitable planet. Now they have to battle and survive an unknown planet with its strange new environment while trying to get back to the Resolute. As if that wasn't hard enough, they also have to face off personal demons, family drama, fellow colonists who may be friend or foe and a sociopath who will stop at nothing to ensure her survival. 

The story is moved with family drama (because, what family does not have some sort of drama or skeletons in the closet right?) as well as thrilling science concepts that can kill you and save you. (That high pitched "I love you" after using helium to escape what could have been a sticky situation, will always be one of my favorite scenes.) 

 An alien robot who seems to be having an identity crisis and a young boy trying to find his place among his family of over achievers (it actually happens more often than you think). 

There has been mixed reactions from critics on Parker Posey's portrayal of the show's antagonist, Dr. Smith. I personally hate her, with a passion and I guess for me, that just means her portrayal is really effective. 

An easy binge watch from start to finish- "Lost In Space"  has yet a lot to explore, which is why its no surprise that Netflix has renewed the series for a second season! More on that here! We really need more of these family oriented adventures, just so you can enjoy a weekend of Netflix with your family. 

8.5/10.