Electric Dreams

Right now you can watch Electric Dreams in the US on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel and Hoopla, and in the UK on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 202 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Lenny Von Dohlen sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Available now on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Electric Dreams keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Electric Dreams from the crowd. Miles Harding buys a state-of-the-art computer that starts expressing conscious thought and emotion after an interaction with spilled champagne. Things begin getting out of hand when both Miles and Edgar, the computer, fall in love with beautiful neighbor Madeline Robistat. Lenny Von Dohlen and Virginia Madsen lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1984. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Electric Dreams holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. 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 Electric Dreams. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Lenny Von Dohlen is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.