Bananas

Bananas is currently streaming in Australia on MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on Hoopla, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 832 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Woody Allen leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on MGM Amazon Channel whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Bananas earns its spot. The jokes in Bananas land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When a bumbling New Yorker is dumped by his activist girlfriend, he travels to a tiny Latin American nation and becomes involved in its latest rebellion. Woody Allen and Louise Lasser lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1971. What keeps Bananas 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.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Bananas. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Woody Allen's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.