Lights, Camera, Netflix!

So, it’s Saturday night and you’re loving SNL and its quirky comedy vibe. You worship the light-hearted girly comedies like The Proposal and Miss Congeniality but want something a little more outrageously funny. Bridesmaids is hilarious, goofy and can give you enough cringy ‘you wouldn’t really do that at a dress fitting’ moments to put you off tying the knot for life! Kristen Wiig sold that movie as the jealous disaster- bound bridesmaid, and now you’ve seen a snippet of Melissa McCarthy as the butch dog-thief you want more.

The only thing is that the soft mushy romcom element made you question your masculinity, so you need a bit more action to collide with your comedy fest. Look no further than The Heat for a mismatched Sandra Bullock vs Melissa McCarthy showdown that is hysterical, thrilling and adds a bit of extra savage entertainment to your night in. Their cop vs FBI contest gave you a taste of the agent life, but don’t worry, Spy has everything you need. Not only Jason Statham basically spoofing every character he’s played, but the mockery of the over 30s spinster turned spy, Miranda to add that British quirkiness as well as the adrenaline- inducing car chases, outfits and gunfights to quench the thrill seekers while they’re having their ribs tickled.

If you’ve been left with that feministic pride that makes you able to conquer the world from your dressing gown and face mask, don’t panic! If you love classics like Charlie’s Angels but wanted more action from Sigourney Weaver in the original, then Ghostbusters (2016) is the perfect remedy. With Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon teaming up for the side-splitting female spin-off come remake, you’re in for a treat. If casting Chris Hemsworth as the dopey thirst-trap of a secretary doesn’t float your boat, then the cameos of the original cast will surely trigger the nostalgia.

All that action has probably left you feeling super-human now. The problem is you’re experiencing the biggest heartbreak since you ran out of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks films. You’re torn between cheating on your two studio rivals: DC and Marvel. Obviously, you love sultry Gal Gadot as she champions girl power on Themyscira, but you want something futuristic like only Brie Larson brought to Captain Marvel, with the addition of the kickass firepower you craved after Terminator: Dark Fate. There may be one solution. Black Panther has it all. Chadwick Boseman, Marvel, superhero costumes, African tribal vibes and contest for the throne. But let’s not forget the genius engineer Letitia Wright whose quips made sibling chemistry come to life, not to mention a cast bursting with star actors and actresses. The badass female warriors of Wakanda gave the physical strength of women reminiscent of the teamwork and camaraderie depicted in the heist hit Ocean’s 8.

A different kind of bravery and camaraderie was captured in Bombshell and Hidden Figures: the non-fictional element. While Bombshell showed a different side to Kate McKinnon and Margot Robbie, seasoned pros like Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron excelled as usual in helping bring to life the serious, ugly truth of shockingly recent harassment in the workplace of Fox News. This gender discrimination was no surprise to the mathematicians that Hidden Figures was based on, who were unfortunately accustomed to the shameful combination of racism to boot. Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer are outstanding in this. A definite addition to the bucket list.

Documentaries like Night Stalker colliding with dramas based on true stories like The Blind Side sounds like the perfect recipe for a movie match made in heaven. On Netflix this mashup of true dramatizations is channelled in the heart of Madam CJ Walker if you want a determined businesswoman origin story. Plus with a wardrobe that gives you hot flushes that only a certain Duke could in the extravagant show Bridgerton. However, if you want to see the spectacular Viola Davis in a sassy role, lifetimes away from her sleek How To Get Away With Murder professionalism or understated role of Aibleen that will hold a place in my heart forever, then take a look at Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

You have already? No spoilers but you thought that shocker was criminal and want justice? I get it. Don’t go scrolling past OJ Simpson and the drama series based on true events. Or even try out Marshall if you want another team up of Chadwick Boseman and Sterling K. Brown to help you battle racial prejudice like only they can. If you’d like to get in on a not-so legit business dealing then The Kitchen is a fierce mobster-esque flick that’s the Irish 70s sister to Widows, where it’s time for the ladies to get their hands dirty and get business done.

If that was the perfect amount of collar and vintage fashion but not enough showbiz razzle-dazzle for you, then you need the lights of a big ol’ city like Chicago or Hollywood to bring it to you. As a series, Hollywood has sex, glamour, and the American movie star dream that shoves LGBT and racial discrimination of the time right into the sparkling show lights of a cheesy, simpler era. If you’re still humming Mr Cellophane to yourself and want him to have his own story to stardom, then don’t overlook Rocketman - the musical toe-tapping Elton John tribute that has more cheer, sequins and feel-good factor than Judy has on offer. Taron Egerton in bird wings could be the only contender to the musical dapper costumes of the Greatest Showman and Into the Woods.

Rather than the bumbling ineptitude of James Cordon to grab the cloak and stick to the quest in the latter, maybe you prefer a headstrong driven fairy-tale lead who gets the job done like in Princess and the Frog. As the most relatable and admirable Disney Princess to me, Tiana is the epitome of hard work and determination, can blast the vocals but still gets an adventure and luckily not stuck as a frog. If you prefer a classic British musical, then my all-time favourite is the Sound of Music (closely followed by Sister Act - maybe I have a thing for nuns?!) Julie Andrews must have a knack with children confirmed by her no-nonsense magical nanny portrayal in Mary Poppins. It’s a shame Rapunzel didn’t have a governess like her. But then we wouldn’t get to experience the light-hearted comical revival of Tangled that breathed fresh air into overbearing mothers, frying pans and the girl in the tower.

Love Tangled but want an animated Disney musical with more adventure, awesome vocals and a getting ready to fight workout montage number? I’d recommend instantly turning on Mulan or Hercules (honey, you mean Hunk-ules) for genius jokes, a need to prove yourself and a heart-warming storyline that’ll get you marching into battle.

Now to round up my selection, how about a film series that encompasses all of the genres you’ve loved from my selection? Pitch Perfect 1, 2 and 3 have the college dynamics and love stories from the throwbacks of Mean Girls and Clueless. They have drama and an aspiring female power squad embodied in the Barden Bellas with tongue-in-cheek acapella puns, hit numbers and remixes, music competition jitters, and even crime and action.

I hope my recommendations have given you an insight in what to watch next, reduced some scrolling time or frantic googling before the popcorn goes stale and probably made you think I need to get out more. Happy watching!