Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Idris Elba, Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes, Social Media, Streaming, Film and TV
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Idris Elba, Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes, Social Media, Streaming, Film and TV
Netflix is home to an underrated Idris Elba mini-series fans have hailed 'entertaining and refreshing'.
Of course, the charming British actor is perhaps best known for fronting BBC psychological crime thriller Luther.
And Netflix has just added one of his 2013 movies described as 'irresistible fun' to its ever-growing catalogue.
But there's a lesser-known mini-series that sees him take on a totally different, more lighthearted role.
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The eight-part series first dropped in 2019, so may well have slipped under your radar.
For fans eager to see more of the Golden Globe winner, this series comes highly recommended - from fans, that is.
It follows Idris Elba as Charlie, a down-and-out DJ whose work has all dried up.
When he reunites with his celebrity actor friend David (Captain America: The First Avenger's JJ Feild) at a wedding, Charlie is offered a last chance at redemption - but only if he agrees to become the male nanny to David’s bratty daughter Gabrielle (His Dark Materials' Frankie Hervey).
As Charlie reluctantly takes on childcare duties, he rediscovers his passion for music and learns what it means to grow up - while Gabrielle learns to let someone else into her carefully controlled world.
Yellowstone's Piper Perabo, Man Like Mobeen's Guz Khan, Giri/Haji's Nicki Vickery, Dune: Prophecy's Jade Anouka and The Wives' Angela Griffin round-out the cast.
The series in question is called Turn Up Charlie, and it's streaming now on Netflix.
The TV series has left fans and critics divided, according to review site Rotten Tomatoes.
Audience members rated it a solid 88 percent, while critics rated it just 52 percent across 42 reviews.
"Poor writing and predictable plot twists dampen Turn Up Charlie's fun premise," the critics' consensus begins. "But those looking for a breezy sitcom starring the perennially cool Idris Elba may find themselves tapping along to its good natured beats."
Fans, however, were thrilled to see Elba in a different kind of role.
"This show is gold!" one fan typed. "And so are Idris's songs... absolute bangers."
"Beautiful. Relatable," a second social media user said. "Great Character development... I can't recommend this enough."
Hitting out at the negative reviews, they added: "I'm really disappointed with the critical response."
"Refreshing and very entertaining," another person said. "Idris Elba does a phenomenal job throughout this series and love the British elements of the humor."
The series was due to run for a second season, but was sadly canceled in April 2020.
All good things must come to an end, I suppose...
Turn Up Charlie is available to stream on Netflix now.