Netflix shows no sign of prioritising quality over quantity, so for 2022, I am planning on doing a monthly round up of films that do not warrant a full review.

Mother/Android
One of the higher priority releases this month, I expected little from this post apocalyptic survival tale, because it is yet another post apocalyptic survival tale! In fact, the first two acts are pretty decent despite a lack of originality, with some good action set pieces and Chloe Grace Moretz putting in a committed performance as a resourceful pregnant woman.
It fizzles out later on, with a very obvious twist.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10

The House
This is a charmless stop motion animation seemingly comprising of a 3 part series stitched together into a feature length film. A star studded voice cast happily pick up a pay cheque with the minimum of effort applied. Aardman will not be losing any sleep.
Rating: 2.5 out of 10

Four to Dinner
There are plenty of foreign language comedies on Netflix that do not  translate well, and this is another. The premise is novel: 4 single people are shown in different couples in parallel universes. The stories are all quite dull, though, and Matteo Martari provides a horribly gurning performance.
Rating: 3 out of 10

The Wasteland
A tedious Spanish horror about a mother and son hiding from monsters in a remote location. Tries to be an atmospheric slow burn, but instead is just boring.
Rating: 2.5 out of 10

How I Fell in Love With a Gangster
Netflix also bombards us with Polish crime dramas. There is little to distinguish this one from the others except for the excessive length of nearly 3 hours. Nikos Skotarczak’s rise in the criminal ranks is depicted in a sprawling way. Competently enough made until the hilariously unrealistic football scenes.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Brazen
A mystery novelist played by Alyssa Milano helps the police investigate the murder of her sister. This is a run of the mill thriller that could have turned up on a Tuesday afternoon on Channel 5 except that the victim worked as a sex cam girl. The killer is obvious from the moment they appear.
Rating: 5 out of 10

Photocopier
A rare Indonesian film on the service. A student loses her scholarship when she gets drunk and out of control at a party. Convinced that there was more to the events than first appears, she tenaciously pursues the truth. Nicely performed and with an intriguing plot, though it does eventually almost outstay its welcome.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10

The Royal Treatment
A very standard rom com about a freewheeling New York hairdresser (Laura Marano) falls for a prince (Mena Massoud). The story pretty much writes itself and the ethnicity of the inhabitants of an Eastern European state is curious to say the least. But Marano keeps the whole thing afloat.
Rating: 5 out of 10

Amandla
A very uneven South African drama about two brothers that grow up to find themselves on opposite sides of the law. The initial scenes suffer from some very bad child acting but it then looks like the story might become an interesting take on the racial struggle around the period that Nelson Mandela was released and eventually became president. However, it instead becomes a really formulaic and dull crime story.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Donkeyhead
Four siblings of Indian heritage come together in Canada when their father is gravely ill. This really should not work because the premise is not original and the characters are often both annoying and selfish. However, the emotions feel real and all of the cast, especially Agam Darshi in the lead role. Darshi also writes and directs and looks set to have a great career.
Rating: 7 out of 10

My Father’s Violin
When young Ozlem’s father dies, she has no choice but to move in with her Dad’s estranged brother Mehmet. Mehmet shows little interest in the girl at first, so concentrated is he on his musical career. But, over time, they bond. The sentiment is laid on pretty thickly, and the story develops exactly as expected in this Turkish drama. However, Engin Altan Düzyatan is compelling as Mehmet and Gülizar Nisa Uray is not too annoying as Ozlem, apart from when she is dancing! Formulaic and quite manipulative, but it has a certain charm.
Rating: 6 out of 10