Green Card

Right now you can watch Green Card in the US on Hoopla — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Gérard Depardieu is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hoopla.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Green Card earns its spot. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Green Card from the crowd. Urban horticulturalist Brontë Mitchell has her eye on a gorgeous apartment, but the building's board will rent it only to a married couple. Georges Fauré, a waiter from France whose visa is expiring, needs to marry an American woman to stay in the country. Their marriage of convenience turns into a burden when they must live together to allay the suspicions of the immigration service, as the polar opposites grate on each other's nerves. Gérard Depardieu and Andie MacDowell lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1990. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Green Card holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Green Card is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Gérard Depardieu is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.