Anywhere but Here

This week's easiest comedy pick in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hoopla is Anywhere but Here. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Susan Sarandon leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Disney Plus whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Anywhere but Here keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Anywhere but Here land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Single mother Adele August is bad with money, and even worse when it comes to making decisions. Her straight-laced daughter, Ann, is a successful high school student with Ivy League aspirations. When Adele decides to pack up and move the two of them from the Midwest to Beverly Hills, Calif., to pursue her dreams of Hollywood success, Ann grows frustrated with her mother's irresponsible and impulsive ways. Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 1999. What keeps Anywhere but Here from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Anywhere but Here respects your intelligence. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Susan Sarandon's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

Anywhere but Here was released in 1999, directed by Wayne Wang. The full 114-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.