Netflix is home to several thrillers, like many other streaming services, which is arguably the genre subscribers gravitate toward most. But sometimes that genre doesn’t offer much when you’re in need of something comforting, and personally, I often turn to a charming romantic comedy or drama for a guaranteed mood-booster. If that’s what you’re looking for heading into February, you’ll want to stream “Flipped.”
Directed and co-written by Rob Reiner, “Flipped” is adapted from the 2001 novel of the same name by Wendelin Van Draanen. Despite the book’s popularity, the movie sadly underperformed at the box office back in 2010, causing it to fall by the wayside among other dramas. Comparisons to Reiner’s earlier work like the obvious “Stand by Me” were inevitable, but “Flipped” stands as a nostalgic glimpse of childhood with an emotionally honest story.
With the number of iconic movies arriving on Netflix at the beginning of February, it would be a shame for “Flipped” to be overshadowed once again. Here’s why it deserves a spot on your Netflix watchlist this weekend.
What is ‘Flipped’ about?
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“Flipped” is a coming‑of‑age romantic comedy‑drama about two young neighbors, Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll) and Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe), whose relationship evolves over several years. After meeting in second grade, Juli instantly falls for Bryce, while he finds her relentless attention awkward and tries to avoid her.
As they grow up from elementary school into junior high during the late 1950s and early 1960s, small events (from a beloved sycamore tree and a school science project involving chickens to family life and school auctions) shape how they see each other. Bryce’s grandfather often nudges him to reconsider his first impressions, and Juli starts to reassess her long‑held crush just as Bryce begins to see her in a new light.
‘Flipped’ is a sweet little movie
I first discovered “Flipped” a few years back when I was going through a huge romantic drama/comedy phase, and out of the bunch I watched (and don’t remember), this one stood out most to me. “Flipped” is a perfectly innocent and unexpectedly charming little movie, strengthened by its small group of likeable characters and the idea of learning who you are through life experiences. Even watching it again, its warmth and humor left me wishing stories like this were made more often.
In “Flipped,” Juli Baker and Bryce Loski grow up in different worlds, living on opposite sides of the same street. Bryce, raised in a picture-perfect suburban household, absorbs his father’s belief that the Bakers fall short of that ideal. Juli, meanwhile, doesn’t really notice how comfortable Bryce’s family is, and she’s unaware of the problems her own family faces.
Though they see each other daily from the age of seven, they never truly understand one another. Much of “Flipped”’s frustration comes from the fact that the two leads never simply talk things through since Juli is so smitten and Bryce can’t grasp why her interest in him feels so annoying.
What I love most about “Flipped” is that it’s told from both perspectives, each offering something different depending on the character’s emotions. Bryce’s viewpoint stays closer to reality, while Juli’s is more subjective and often misleading, shaped by her deep admiration for him. Early scenes play out like a straightforward, awkward rom-com, but as the movie progresses they take on greater meaning, which is a clever reflection of the character’s becoming more mature.
Even though it’s tempting to glance at the Rotten Tomatoes score, you’ll be met with a green splat, as critics gave “Flipped” a 54% rating (with audiences responding more warmly at 79%). The site’s critics consensus reads: “While not without its nostalgic charms, Rob Reiner’s sometimes awkward adaptation of Wendelin Van Draanen’s childhood novel doesn’t reach the heights of the director’s earlier work like Stand By Me.”
Still, it doesn’t feel entirely fair to judge the movie by that metric alone, given that “Flipped” is telling a very different kind of story. And it’s one that doesn’t fail to boost your mood on a cold evening.
Stream “Flipped” on Netflix now
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