Barefoot in the Park

Skip the endless scrolling — Barefoot in the Park, in the US on YouTube TV and Kanopy, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video, is exactly the comedy you were looking for. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 618 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Robert Redford leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on YouTube TV whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Barefoot in the Park is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Barefoot in the Park land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. In this film based on a Neil Simon play, newlyweds Corie, a free spirit, and Paul Bratter, an uptight lawyer, share a sixth-floor apartment in Greenwich Village. Soon after their marriage, Corie tries to find a companion for mother, Ethel, who is now alone, and sets up Ethel with neighbor Victor. Inappropriate behavior on a double date causes conflict, and the young couple considers divorce. Robert Redford and Jane Fonda lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 1967. Barefoot in the Park earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Barefoot in the Park is a strong candidate. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Robert Redford's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

Barefoot in the Park was released in 1967, directed by Gene Saks. The full 106-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.