While Netflix's best films are numerous, there is a curious case to be made when it comes to Netflix originals The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery seems to break this pattern, offering a lively and entertaining film that is sure to be well received by critics

Yes, it seems that Netflix films are often either serious dramas with prestige or just fun and laughs Neither is a bad thing, but I've been waiting for Netflix to offer films that are both appreciated by a wider audience and that I, the viewer, don't feel bad about watching

And I am happy to say that director Rian Johnson has done exactly what I (and I believe Netflix as well) wanted The Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is virtually a perfect Netflix film, so much so that I watched it twice I'll explain why in my review of "Truly Impressive: A Knives Out Mystery

"The Glass Onion" continues Johnson's homage to Agatha Christie's mystery novels, with every little thing done right by perfect casting And it starts with Benoit Blanc, who continues from "Knives Out": played by Daniel Craig, the detective Benoit Blanc is as good a detective as he is smooth, which is characteristic of the South Yes, the novelty of James Bond sounding like a Southern gentleman has not worn off

Invited back into action when tech billionaire Miles Bronn (Edward Norton) hosts a murder mystery party on a private island in Greece, Bran is delighted that this job is his life Because this job is his life This change of pace for Bran, who is out of practice and eccentric, works perfectly for Craig and gives him a lot of emotion

But Bran is even more of a distraction than before, and his presence on the island makes no sense at all Bran has brought his friends, a group of influencers, movers, and shakers who call themselves disruptors, to the island for a party [Birdie, played by Kate Hudson, and Duke, played by Dave Bautista, are a pair of unaware goofballs who ask Bronn for help with their careers Lionel (Leslie Odom Jr) works for Bronn's company and Claire (Kathryn Hahn) is an up-and-coming politician Both are the brains of the guests, but each gets a fun job because they can't get out of frustrating situations

Bron's friends all form something of an orchestra of silliness and stupidity Hudson, in particular, says lines that adults would be smart enough to know not to say, with a flatness that subtly indicates she is not in on the joke

Then there is Andy (Janelle Monay) Bron's ex-girlfriend, who is here despite not being on very good terms with the host Monae, thankfully, is the best to work with and the most fun to watch of the "guests"

Filled with surprises and great moments (her alcohol consumption scene is noteworthy), Monae's performance is my favorite of the entire cast For that reason, "Glass Onion" should be a major milestone in her career Her previous dramatic work ("Hidden Figures," "Moonlight") has been noteworthy, but her exposure in this comedy will likely bring her to the attention of a wider audience

And then there's Edward Norton His Miles Bron might have felt like a stand-in for a big-name tech CEO had the film been released in any other season Norton deftly weaves a strange mannerisms reminiscent of Zuckerberg He wears clothes straight out of the Steve Jobs lookbook

But I can only think of Miles Bronn's brilliant mockery of Elon Musk And I am not the only one who sees the character that way, as Norton personifies unearned confidence and a repeated lack of understanding of common concepts

In short, "The Glass Onion" is about a detective trying to solve a mystery at the center of which a fool leads a fool And thanks to great casting, none of it feels forced or strange It is truly topical

Look up the list of Netflix's most popular movies and you will recall an early Coldplay hit: "Look to the stars, the stars are shining for you" And this is the first reason why "The Glass Onion" is likely to be a big hit for Netflix [It has a pair of action heroes in Daniel Craig and Dave Bautista And Edward Norton's career is full of fame Janelle Monae is a crossover musician/actor who attracts young audiences, Kate Hudson is a must for rom-com fans, and Kathryn Hahn has been so successful recently that the term "Harnacénce" has become a modern term

And then there's rewatchability The Glass Onion is not a novelty film like its predecessor, but its big twists (and there are big twists) will keep you coming back to it again and again As I mentioned, I saw the film twice in theaters and liked it better the second time around

What you may not know is that Netflix is all about viewing time While it needs to grow its audience and retain subscribers, the main public indicator of Netflix's success is time spent watching movies and shows So it's not hard to imagine how pleased Netflix executives were to discover the Glass Onion twist Knowing that, it definitely makes the second viewing more enjoyable, because you see the scene differently

In this "The Glass Onion," a perfectly crafted plot twists and turns in a way that would be a spoiler: Ryan Johnson's sequel proves that Netflix was right to invest in the two "Knives Out" films (nothing yet about the third We don't know yet)

Sure, "Glass Onion" feels like it's missing something, but it's not hard to understand why It is not hard to understand why While we learn a little more about Mr Blanc this time around (in a fun scene), "Glass Onion" is all about showing an enjoyable whodunit

Johnson's new stage production may be more upbeat and flamboyant, but the cast is equally impressive (the original included Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, and Ana de Armas)

Packed with everything from twee references to celebrity products to unintentional cameos (watch the end credits), "The Glass Onion" is full of true charm

Like the hard kombucha that Bron's guests drink throughout the film, "The Glass Onion" is smooth and has a subtle kick And you are bound to watch it again