Friday

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Friday is available on Crave and Starz Amazon Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Ice Cube — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on Crave and see for yourself.

Friday arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Friday from the crowd. Craig and Smokey are two guys in Los Angeles hanging out on their porch on a Friday afternoon, smoking and drinking, looking for something to do. The chemistry Ice Cube and Chris Tucker bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. Friday came out in 1995. The timing in Friday is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Friday respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Ice Cube sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.