My main goal when starting this blog was to create a resource for people to find new things to love! With that in mind, I’ve decided that maybe I need some exposure to some new things myself. That is where my idea for the newest feature of Underrate Yourself! came from – Netflix Roulette! Once a week I’ll pick a random letter and number combination. For example, my first choice was KI – 10. I typed “KI” into the Netflix search, and watched the 10th movie in the results.
I ended up watching a very deep and emotional independent film called King Jack.
I’ve always been a fan of independent movies. Netflix actually has a LOT of good ones. Sometimes though, the movies are not done very well. This is usually because of the low budget that they’re working with – it’s often the acting that isn’t too great, and the script is sometimes sub-par. Despite the flaws that often come with an independently made movie, they always have something to them that you can take away. It’s usually the story line that shines through – the struggles that the characters overcome, and the way they deal with their life.
This movie though, was so impressive. Receiving 3.5 stars on Netflix, I knew I was in for something good as that is very above average. It also received an insanely high rating of 94% on rotten tomatoes. With the title “King Jack” I originally thought I was going to see a more light-hearted comedy type.
But boy was I wrong. Coming in at only 1 hour and 20 minutes, this movie didn’t leave itself a lot of time to impress me. I’m not generally a fan of short movies, as I love to sit and get into something for a good couple of hours. This movie drew me in immediately though. It starts off with a grim view of the neighbourhood. At one point you see an old-fashioned TV inside a shopping cart… just sitting there in the middle of nowhere. Graffiti is everywhere. You know right away that this isn’t the fanciest place to live, to say the least.
Plot Overview
Jack has a full roster of problems. He has an ongoing feud with a cruel, older bully and is facing even more summer school. His plate is full, so he’s not very happy when his aunt gets sick and he is asked to look after his younger cousin, who has to come stay at his house for the weekend. He voices his protest, but unfortunately, he has no say in the matter.
Taking place over a hot summer weekend, Jack learns all about love and responsibility, and what it means to stand up for yourself.
My Thoughts
While not the most complex story line, King Jack covers some deep issues.
Fifteen year old Jack is very troubled. He has an absolutely foul attitude, he is hateful towards pretty much everyone. He mostly acts out against his mom though. He desperately wants to fit in and be “cool” and so he joins his friends and classmates in their habits of smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Jack also has a very toxic vocabulary. While swearing is certainly not uncommon, Jack does it excessively. His repertoire of insults also includes many other unsightly words that are definitely not as common. To top everything off, Jack is lacking a father figure. The movie is not entirely clear whether his father is dead or simply gone, but the reality is, Jack is worse off for it.
There is some light shining through his personality however. He is oddly sensitive, and he’s extremely genuine about the girl he likes. He makes a concerted effort to get along with her when given the oppourtunity.
Bonding With His Younger Cousin
While Jack detests the idea of hanging out with his shy, awkward 12 year old cousin, it turns out that the time they spend together might actually serve to be very valuable. When forced to hang out with him, Jack is initially annoyed and irritable. He shamelessly shows off, and mocks his cousin with mean and sarcastic remarks. This doesn’t seem to phase the young boy though, as he simply chuckles at Jack’s crazy antics.
He is very quiet at first, likely upset about his mother’s ongoing mental issues. Eventually he and Jack start talking, and bonding over similar bullying experiences. They are soon having fun, and actually enjoying their time together. You can start to see a great relationship forming, one that would be beneficial to both boys. That is, until something goes terribly, terribly wrong.
Forced to Grow Up
Ultimately, Jack is forced to make a choice. Be brave and do the right thing, or let someone he cares about get hurt. In the short hour and twenty minute time span that is King Jack, you see Jack do a lot of growing up. He makes some realizations about his life, and his general outlook changes a lot. It is a raw, heart-wrenching drama that may be a little difficult to watch at times, but the ultimate message is a great one.
It isn’t until close to the end of the movie that you come to learn the importance of the title, but when you do it adds that perfect finishing touch of meaning to a movie that you already won’t forget any time soon.
Conclusion
While totally and completely not what I expected, I ended up really loving this movie. It is relate-able and will hit home for some, while showing others the harsh reality in which some children live and grow up in.
It is not all sadness and anger however, as you see Jack forming some very positive relationships with others, as he progresses through what is likely a life-changing weekend.
King Jack was an amazing, high quality addition to the ever-growing list of independently made films, and it is a shining example.
Let me know what you think of King Jack if you decide to watch it! Please don’t watch it with your young children though, they will not like it nor is it appropriate.
I really enjoyed reading your review of King Jack. I’ve never seen the movie but definitely feel inclined to now, thanks for the thorough review! It was very informative yet easy to read and keep engaged – some review sites just have blocks and blocks of text to get through which is no fun!
Glad to have found your site… Looking forward to reading more 🙂
Andrea
So glad you enjoyed it, I do encourage you to check out the movie – it really was so good!
I love your idea of finding new movies to watch, but personally, I don’t like to do the leg work. I much prefer reading someone else’s description before dedicating 2 hours. King Jack sounds interesting, especially since it only takes place over a weekend. I enjoy independent films, so I will have to look into this one. Thanks for the post!
You’re welcome! If you enjoy independent movies and don’t mind watching a few really intense scenes, then you’ll probably love this movie. Definitely one of the best independent movies I’ve ever seen. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hey Steph,
What a neat way to select the items you plan on reviewing. It’s a great concept for the website too as most mainstream items tend to be formulaic. This may sell well, but it can get a bit dull.
The movie you reviewed on this page seems like something I would be interested in seeing. You did a great job of building up the story and catch my interest.
I have bookmarked your site to see what else you come up with in the future. It’s definitely going to make me look forward to updates. Good Job!
Best Regards,
Jim
Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed the review, and I do hope you check out the movie. It really is so good. 🙂
Excellent review Steph, you left me wanting to watch the film to know the event that allowed Jack to be known as King Jack. I also appreciate that it’s a movie that I can easily access via Netflix as sometimes it’s hard to hunt down movies due to the “disappearance” of DVD stores.
And finally I want to thank you for your method (Netflix Roulette) of finding movies to watch, and I am going to apply it to my next Netflix search because you’ve made me realise what I’m missing out on.
It’s so true, DVD stores and rental places are dropping like flies these days. But yeah, there are actually so many little-known treasures on Netflix, I just want to find some of them. I’m glad you’re going to try it too, happy searching!
Based on the article you wrote it seems like the move is rated PG-13 or R rated. I’ll be very honest with you, this seems like the type of movie that I would watch. Usually the movies that are the most influential and heart racing are the best ones;)
BTW do you know how old this movie is? The way you described this movie kind of reminds me of my previous experiences in high school. I am sure a lot of people are going to watch this movie and relate to it.
Great article:)
I’m not sure about R, but definitely at least PG-13 for sure. It was released on April 17, 2015, so it’s just about a year old! It does seem kind of old-fashioned though. Reminded me a little bit of The Outsiders actually.
I love the premise to your Netflix Roulette – I wish I had the time in my day to do the same thing!
King Jack sounds like a fantastic film, I may give it a look. I thought it would be a historical drama (which I don’t really enjoy) so I’m glad you gave a description of it. Thanks for the review.
It was fantastic! Very moving. I do hope you get the chance to check it out!