Welcome Char,
Simplest suggestion: Shut off the iPad completely (hold down the top button until the shutdown slider appears, then use the slider) and then turn the iPad back on. Try Netflix now.
Some background questions:
1. How many GB is your iPad ?
2. How much space on it is free ? (see iTunes. plug in iPad and it will tell you how much free space there is somewhere in iTunes when you click on iPad)
3. What kind of internet connection do you have ? If you know someone with a faster internet connection, you might go to their house / workplace and try it there.
4. What movie is it ? (perhaps the movie is extra high definition).
5. Do you know what version of iOS you are running ?