We’ve called it Bad Boys meets Lord of the Rings, and tonight, it’s finally here. The Urban Fantasy sleeper-hit of 2017 — Bright — arrives on Netflix tonight, and you should probably clear your schedules. Are you into dudes fighting with swords in an inner-city drama? Check. Did you think Max Landis did a decent job with Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency? Double check, he wrote the script. Oh, did we mention Will Smith?
Also, let’s make one thing clear. Just because this movie was directed by the guy who did Suicide Squad, David Ayers, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For one thing, let’s be honest, Suicide Squad is way more entertaining than Justice League. Plus, Ayers freaking wrote Training Day, one of the most critically acclaimed cop movies of all time. So, the Bad Boys comparison might be slightly off with Bright. Instead, it’s probably closer to Training Day mashed-up with The Magicians.
Will Smith and Joel Edgerton as officers Ward and Jakoby. The latter is an Orc.
Cop dramas have a mixed heritage in the fantasy and science fiction genres. On the one hand, you’ve got the classics like RoboCop or Alien Nation. On the other far, end of the spectrum, you’ve got Theodore Rex, a movie starring Whoopie Goldberg as a cop who has a dinosaur cop partner. The key to these kinds of premises seems to be this: have some comedy in your goofy fantasy buddy cop movie, but not too much.
Bright is also a great palette cleanser for fans of genre movies and TV tired of the big hero’s journey stuff. Plus, if you’re waiting for the final Game of Thrones season, and or you’re gearing up for The Magicians season 3, Bright seems like the best way to tide yourself over until 2018.
Plus, here’s a drinking game idea: anytime anyone says Orc, or a sword is on screen. Take a drink. Or, anytime Will Smith, says anything.
Have a great night. Enjoy Bright.
Bright will begin streaming on Netflix on December 22 at 12:00 am eastern time.
