Kicking & Screaming

Right now you can watch Kicking & Screaming on Crave and Paramount Plus — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 696 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Will Ferrell sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Crave whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Kicking & Screaming is worth clearing space for. Kicking & Screaming gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Phil Weston has been unathletic his entire life. In college he failed at every sport that he tried out for. It looks like his 10-year old son, Sam, is following in his footsteps. Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2005. What keeps Kicking & Screaming 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.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Kicking & Screaming respects your intelligence. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Will Ferrell's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.