The 4 Best Dramatic Comedy Movies on Netflix: Time to Laugh and Cry
Not a fan of stupid comedy? Can’t stand a melodramatic tearjerker? With a dramedy, you get the best of both worlds. You laugh a little, you cry a little, and then you laugh again. Be sure to check out the five critically acclaimed dramatic comedy movies below; they’re all available for streaming on Netflix.
1. ‘Lady Bird’
Directed by Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Lady Bird follows an artistic, free thinker as she navigates high school, prepares for college, and comes head-to-head with a mother who doesn’t seem to “get her.”
Though Lady Bird is yet another coming-of-age tale, it sits above its kind. The film dives headfirst into what it means to be struggling through adolescence via witty dialogue, clean cinematography, and poignant performances from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf.
Whether Lady Bird is jumping from a car or arguing with her hyper-realistic (if not pessimistic) mother determined to cut her down a size, most scenes are comedic, yet that doesn’t mean they are light.
2. ‘The Edge of Seventeen’
The Edge of Seventeen is another coming-of-age film, with Hailee Steinfeld at the center. Yet, with Woodly Harrelson’s take on a supportive, if not darkly humorous teacher, it becomes an ensemble accomplishment.
When Nadine’s best friend starts dating her uber-popular and handsome older brother, Nadine enters a downward spiral — one filled with quick comebacks, snarky replies, a bit of sexual discovery, and a rollercoaster ride to maturity. The Edge of Seventeen is perfect for anyone in high school (or even in college) whose life hasn’t been picture-perfect — who’s a bit lost, yet only a few steps away from being found.
3. ‘Private Life’
Private Life presents a couple doing everything to raise a child, whether it be via adoption or IVF. Yet, as the couple grows older, the complications grow in-tandem. The story takes on an everyday life stage — that many take for granted — and realistically dramatizes it. Yet, is in the dialogue that this film reaches unpredictable heights.
The sheer degree of wit is unmatched. The dialogue is almost too good to be true. It’s better than real-life, yet the one yearning to be a mother is a writer, so, could she be that quick? With “sperm on sabbatical” and fertility in question, it’s funny, but it is due to sadness and the despair that the couple must resort to humor. As for the leading duo: Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hahn are a perfect pair.
4. ‘Silver Linings Playbook’
Silver Linings Playbook follows Pat Solatano (Bradley Cooper) after he loses his job and wife and moves back in with his parents (Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver). When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), the situation grows complex. She offers to help him fix his marriage if he enters a dance competition with her in exchange.
The chemistry between Cooper and Lawrence is strong, and they make for several cute scenes together. Though making time for adorable moments and bits of humor, the film never forgets that its lead characters are both quite fractured and in need of support.
