With long autumn nights well and truly here, and a 10pm curfew keeping us indoors, we’re keen to know what we’ll be watching over the coming months. TV and film were our saviours in the first lockdown, after all. Luckily, we’re already starting to see some great entertainment choices ahead. 

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant’s thriller, The Undoing, is coming to Now TV later this month. The Crown is set to return for its fourth season on 15 November. And The Great British Bake Off is continuing to bring some wholesome goodness into our lives again. 

Yep, it’s all pretty exciting. And now, Netflix has just dropped a new, award-winning comedy onto its platform – just in time for the chilly weekend.

After winning at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, Radha Blank’s The Forty-Year-Old Version is now available to watch on Netflix. Blank – who stars in the lead role – also wrote and directed the movie, while Lena Waithe (Master of None, Queen & Slim) co-produced it.

When the trailer was released last month, we just knew everyone is going to be watching this one. 

What is The Forty-Year-Old Version about?

Radha, a down-on-her-luck New York playwright, is desperate for a breakthrough before 40. But when she foils what seems like her last shot at success, she’s left with no choice but to reinvent herself as a rapper: RadhaMUSPrime. The film follows Radha as she vacillates between the worlds of hip-hop and theatre on a quest to find her true voice.

Let’s take a look at the trailer:

As you can see from the trailer, it;s a timely, poignant and very funny watch – giving a fresh take on the traditional New York tale from a perspective we seldom see stories being told from. We are also very much here for those powerful hip-hop lyrics and performances. 

When is The Forty-Year-Old Version released?

The Forty-Year-Old Version is available to stream on Netflix now.

What has the reaction been like?

People are already praising the new film on Twitter. 

“Okay, so Radha Blank is a star,” tweeted one fan. “Her film The Forty-Year-Old Version is what we needed this year.”

“The Forty-Year-Old Version is hilariously good,” shared another viewer. “Haven’t laughed this hard @ a movie since I can remember. So many highlights. The salute to Spike, Harlem, female [MCs], and finding your voice @ 40… what a gem of a film.”

And a third Twitter user added: “This film is sooooo good. I love how it was shot. The story is still with me! Masterful that Radha Blank!”

It sounds like it’s definitely one to add to your Netflix list this autumn.

Images: Netflix