Today, we have two films that smartly take existing films and popular genres, and try to update the product. Some are more successful, but both are watchable.

Do Revenge (Netflix) - Do Revenge is a teenage High School drama that knows how to proudly wear its references on its sleeve. The most obvious would be Clueless in terms of vibe and feel, and Strangers On the Train, in terms of plot device and narrative. Drea (Camila Mendes from Riverdale) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke from Stranger Things) are the main characters who, like in Strangers, plot revenge on their antagonists by taking on each other’s ‘revenge mission’. And this all happens within the confines of the Rosehill campus. In Drea’s case, it’s to get back at Max, her ex-boyfriend who leaked a sexy video she made for him. With Eleanor, it’s Carissa, who spread false gossip about Eleanor being a queer predator.

In planning the switch, it becomes Drea’s responsibility to bring down Carissa, while Eleanor will target Max - with the dreaded makeover sequence. Fast-paced, even if a little heavy on the exposition (in order to spell things out for the intended mainly teenage audience), the film succeeds because the screenwriters know enough to pay homage to its references, while still inserting enough little twists and turns in the mainly predictable plot. You’ll like how Max, in true ‘plastic’ form, tries to be all apologetic about what he did to Drea and goes all ‘woke’. Maya Hawke has the more interesting character and arc with Eleanor, and you’ll be more taken with her part of the narrative.

The Protege (HBO GO) - With films like Atomic Blonde and Hannah as smart precedents, it may have seemed like there really was no urgent need for yet another female spy film. And to honest, there really isn’t anything drastically new being placed on the table with The Protege, other than the fact that we have Maggie Q taking on the lead role, and using her real life Vietnamese roots as an element of her character’s origin story. With Samuel L. Jackson on board as Moody, mentor to Maggie’s Anna; Jackson camps it up, taking on a role we’ve seen him play countless of times. The more unexpected twist in the casting is to find another grizzled veteran, Michael Keaton, taking on the role of Rembrandt.

It’s Rembrandt that stands out as the most complex character. On the surface, he’s Anna’s antagonist, aligned with the forces that put a hit on Moody, and the target of Anna’s mission of deadly revenge. Of course, things aren’t what they seem, whether we’re talking about Moody’s demise, or where the alliances of Rembrandt lie. It’s like he’s both committed to exterminating Anna, while being interested in her to the point of distraction. The thing that was bothering me more is why after coming out in such strong acting vehicles of late, Keaton would take on this rather fluff role. He may be having fun, but besides looking too old for the physicality required of the role, it also seems to be a role he could perform in his sleep.