Our take
This Fool is a half-hour, 10-part series following Julio Lopez (played by co-creator Chris Estrada) a self-proclaimed “punk-ass bitch” and pushover who’s still in the process of learning to stand up for himself. Julio works for a gang rehab center called Hugs Not Thugs, where he also helps his cousin Luis (Frankie Quiñones) get back on his feet. It’s equal parts silly and sweet, but it also reflects the socio-political problems that tend to pervade Julio and Luis’ Southern LA community. References to violence and inequality are as present as they’ll be in stories like these, but they’re injected here with surreal humor, making it an easygoing but meaningful watch.
What it won
Spirit Awards
1 nom
The story
Julio Lopez has a heart of gold and goes out of his way to help everyone but himself. Julio attempts to better his community, overcome his codependency issues with his family, and navigate working-class life in South Central.
Elsewhere
"Although streaming comedies haven’t yet settled on an ideal number of total seasons, a just world would give us several more years of This Fool."
— Kathryn VanArendonk
"Even if they’re only crawling towards any meaningful self-realization, there are far less entertaining ways to spend a few hours than with these fools."
— Caroline Framke
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.
