Big Stan

Right now you can watch Big Stan in the US on Hoopla and Fawesome — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Rob Schneider leads a cast with real comic timing. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hoopla.

Big Stan is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Big Stan land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A weak con man panics when he learns he's going to prison for fraud. He hires a mysterious martial arts guru who helps transform him into a martial arts expert who can fight off inmates who want to hurt or love him. Rob Schneider and David Carradine lead a cast that never overplays a joke. Big Stan came out in 2007. What keeps Big Stan from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Big Stan is a strong candidate. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Rob Schneider's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.