We Streamed From Straight A's to XXX (2017) on Cocoflix – Full Watch Test

The Premise: More Than a Headline Grab?

“From Straight A’s to XXX” documents college student Miriam and how her financial struggles push her into the world of doing adult films. The movie begins with an interesting hook: a secret, a double life, and the inevitable mess that happens when a secret is told. The audience hopes that this movie shows the deep internet attacks, internet shaming, and how someone manages to speak out and be empowered during this mass shaming, only to show how disappointed the main character will be with her family and how much she will be disappointed by her professional colleagues. This movie is like most TV movies, it has a good story and Kosher controversy to keep people interested. The summary says a person loses control and order rapidly which ultimately leads to the chaos. The rest of the summary essentially is trying to see how much the movie will try to show the intricacies that come with this real world event. There are no sweeping epic movies here. This is a movie about character to give the audience a quick impact that they want.

Pacing and Playback: A Quick Hit or a Drag?

Brevity is this film's hallmark, as "From Straight A's to XXX" clocks in a mere 1 hour and 27 minutes. The pacing is equally as quick and hard to catch your breath as Miriam's decision spirals into several cascading conflicts. Some people may complain this film races too quickly to relax and savor the emotional scenes, but the convenience of the speed of this film means the viewer is never bored. Because Miriam's secret life is so abruptly exposed to the public, there is very little time for the audience or Miriam to develop more of her as a person beyond just the current situation. For people who have a short attention span or have limited time like people on a trip, this is a great way to spend the time. But if you want a film with more situations and less action, this doesn't work. When the film's plot starts becoming possible to predict, and the scenes start to blur together for some, they begin to lose interest. However, when the plot is moving this quickly there really isn't a good opportunity to make this film more than the sum of its scenes.

What Stuck (and What Stumbled)

The standout of the film for me was Haley Pullos's Miriam. Pullos captures the angst and defiance of Miriam's internally contradicting nature, showing the audience why Miriam makes decisions that can be questionable. The story also shows us an important aspect of online culture and the media’s parsing of women in the limelight. The story loses points for its suboptimal treatment of the adult film industry and the misguided notion of “empowerment.” The details of the plot are reinforced by the people populating the story. Miriam’s stressed family, opposed to her working in the adult film industry, brings out the TV movie clichés and lacks the ability to show creativity and originality. The film employs good storytelling techniques to answer or at least stimulate conversation for the important questions that come with these issues. Unfortunately, the answers are shallow, as the plot is the focal point rather than the details of the story.

Screen Suitability: Phone, PC, or Big Screen?

Due to its made-for-TV format, character-driven nature, and focus on the personal, “From Straight A’s to XXX” is designed especially for watching alone and on smaller screens. On an Android while commuting, or on a PC while taking a lunch break, “From Straight A’s to XXX” offers a straightforward story-line and short running time. While the production values are fine as is, and consistent with watching films while on your commute, there is little to no benefit, or detriment in watching it in large screen, big television format. The story is simply wanted and narratively driven, containing little to no cinematic drive. While the film can be “blown-up” in size and viewed using Cocoflix, it is not the type of film that should be featured as the main occupant in a family television night. The film’s intimate nature and powerful themes viewing should be done with minimal distractions. This is a personal story for personal viewing and not a family viewing event.

The Download Dilemma: Worth Your Time?

While this movie is a bit rushed, “From Straight A’s to XXX” does an excellent job showing the decisions and consequences tough adults have to face and young adults have to navigate. This is a great character study, especially with the amazing lead actress. If you have watched “From Straight A’s to XXX,” it most likely stays in your ‘recommended’ section on Cocoflix. Fans of Haley Pullos and those interested in controversial choices and what social implications they have will enjoy this watch. With a great story to tell, this movie is a cautionary tale of the effects your decisions can and will have on you. While you most likely won’t disregard any other movie in the genre, this is a great watch in the privacy of your own home.