Candy Jar

Right now you can watch Candy Jar in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix — 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. 488 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Sami Gayle is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Candy Jar earns its spot. Candy Jar gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Dueling high school debate champs who are at odds on just about everything forge ahead with ambitious plans to get into the colleges of their dreams. Sami Gayle and Jacob Latimore lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. What keeps Candy Jar from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Candy Jar is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Sami Gayle's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.