Adam Sandler’s funniest and an Aldis Hodge showcase: This week’s best and biggest on Netflix

Check out Jordan Parker’s ‘The week’s best and biggest on Netflix’ every Friday on CityNews Halifax.

Happy Gilmore

This is not just Sandler’s funniest, but a film I grew up absolutely adoring. One of the most entertaining of the 1990s, Happy Gilmore is a gem.

It follows hockey bruiser and flailing player Happy, who realizes he has a knack for the long drive. He enters golf tournaments to try to win cash prizes and safe his grandmother’s house from foreclosure.

Equally sweet, sassy and silly, Happy Gilmore has something the comedians latest movies don’t: A beating heart.

Sandler, Modern Family’s Julie Bowen, Christopher McDonald, Carl Weathers and Frances Bay are all hilarious. Watch for a scene-stealing turn from a young Ben Stiller too.

4.5/5 Stars

Finding You

This fun little getaway romcom is going to keep you smiling its entire runtime.

It follows a violinist on a semester abroad who has her tranquil existence interrupted when her host B&B family welcomes a famous new guest.

Finley and film hunk Beckett Rush become begrudging friends, and soon see the possibility of more than that.

Jedidiah Goodacre and Rose Reid have wonderful chemistry, and the ensemble is incredibly sweet.

Based on the book There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones, this flick is an adorable little delight.

3.5/5 Stars

Brian Banks

I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this 2018 diamond in the rough until last weekend.

It follows a young football player whose NFL dreams are shattered in his high school years. He’s convicted of a sex crime and sent to prison, and fights for years to clear his name.

Based on a true story, this examination of an unfair justice system and rigid, unintuitive laws is searing and meditative.

Aldis Hodge gives an unbelievable star turn, and Greg Kinnear, Sherri Shepherd, and Xosha Roquemore all give fantastic turns.

Frequent comedy director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, Patch Adams) moves out of his comfort zone here, and makes an honourable effort.

4/5 Stars

Set It Off

It’s hard to reconcile with the fact this movie is over 25 years old, but its themes still resonate.

A career launching-pad for its stars and director, Set It Off follows four women who turn to robbing banks in L.A. to make ends meet.

Stars Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise all saw their stock rise after some truly fantastic turns here. With supporting roles for John C. McGinley, Blair Underwood and Dr. Dre, this one has plenty of star power.

F. Gary Gray followed up his hit debut Friday with this one, an entirely different type of feature. Now known for films like Law Abiding Citizen, The Fate Of The Furious and Straight Outta Compton, Set It Off still ranks among his best after all these years.

4/5 Stars

The Farewell

This one made me bawl, and it was one of the biggest snubs at the Oscars in 2020.

It follows a Chinese family who discover the grandmother in their family will soon pass away, and they choose not to tell her.

They schedule a huge wedding as a way to celebrate and come together as a family before she dies.

Nominated at the Golden Globes for Best Foreign Language Film, and boasting a win by Awkwafina for Best Actress In A Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, this one came by surprise.

It’s a sweet, beautiful film about love and family that will have you reaching for Kleenex.

4/5 Stars

Jordan Parker’s weekly film reviews can be found on his blog, Parker & The Picture Shows.