Popular Netflix movies often live on one side of the Venn chart of figurative approval. Either you are critically likable *and* at the top of the charts, or you are damned hard and also rank highly. Today, we are talking about one of the latter.
Persuasion, which dropped Friday (July 15), is a Jane Austen adaptation that was met with intense skepticism when its trailers first arrived. But day in and day out, the persuasion somehow convinced Netflix fans to deliver before then.
And starting Sunday (via FlexPatrol (Opens in a new tab)), Persuasion was America’s #1 film on Netflix, although it was fighting for that top spot with the animated family movie The Sea Beast (which has its side both critics and audiences). This place is maintained as of today (Tuesday, July 19). But about the other factor that persuasion was fighting against…
Yes, critics were practically tossing overripe tomatoes at Persuasion, as negative press rolled left and right (enough to raise even more suspicion that it would make it to our list of best movies on Netflix). So, let’s dive into what persuasion is, why critics hate it and whether you should watch it.
What is persuading Netflix?
Persuasion is the latest attempt to give Jane Austen’s novel of the same name a modern revival. Dakota Johnson plays Anne Elliot, whose family struggles as they deal with it all by acting as a mix of Zach Morris and Fleabag, and talking to the camera every chance they get.
Elliot is even set to marry Frederick Wentworth (Cosmo Jarvis), but her family and friends put it off before he can move on. Wentworth reappears in her life after many years and is now a captain. This sends Anne wondering if she made the right call, and if he is still interested in her.
But the captain isn’t the only suitor in the picture. Anne catches the eyes of a wealthy Mr. Elliot (Henry Golding), and the whole town suspects his ambitions with her.
This establishes a somewhat normative position. Does Anne go with the man with money and cash that she and her family can use a lot? Or does she follow her heart into Frederick’s arms, if he will bring her back.
What critics say about persuading Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes’s Tomatometer isn’t one to live your life by (I, for example, liked the new Resident Evil movie, which drops below 60% currently), but Persuasion’s 31% rotten tomatoes (Opens in a new tab) The result is a big red flag. K. Austin Collins in rolling rock (Opens in a new tab) He doesn’t hold back, writing “Austin works hard. But mediocrity, this movie reminds us, works hard.”
David Sims in Atlantic Ocean (Opens in a new tab) He wrote, “But the persuasion sometimes seems awkward from its physical source, or at least overbrands an audience that might not be able to handle a more gentle pace. The result is mellow and forgettable—quite the opposite of Austin’s quietest, noblest heroine.”
Peter Deburg, writes for diverse (Opens in a new tab), On Persuasion, wrote that this type of adaptation “strips the novel of its essential tension.” He also notes that Johnson “isn’t the right actor for the role, and she’s been misdirected completely.”
However, not all reviews were negative. AV . Club (Opens in a new tab)Courtney Howard of Persuasion gave the book a grade of B, writing that it “combines classic and contemporary with resonant innovative craftsmanship.” The performers get their blooms, too, stating, “Despite these modern limitations, Cracknell’s adaptation is riven with life. Especially with a effervescent actress and a brilliant actor delivering a compelling performance.”
Should you watch Netflix’s Persuasion Tonight?
Netflix’s Persuasion feels more like a Marvel movie or Disney Plus show, which has been criticized for diverting too much from the source material. Those who knew what it could have been would be disappointed at best, and humiliated at worst.
But if you’re not familiar with Jane Austen’s original work, you may find that Persuasion is worth 1 hour and 49 minutes of running time. I won’t go into that expecting the moon, but at least you have attractive people who swoon for each other, and a protagonist who just won’t stop making jokes. This is exactly what some people want. It’s just a matter of whether you’re one of those people.
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