Little Shop of Horrors

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Little Shop of Horrors is available in the US on Hoopla, and in the UK on HBO Max Amazon Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. With 1,649 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Rick Moranis — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on Hoopla and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Little Shop of Horrors is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Little Shop of Horrors from the crowd. Seymour Krelborn is a nerdy orphan working at Mushnik's; a flower shop in urban Skid Row. He harbors a crush on fellow co-worker, Audrey Fulquard, and is berated by Mr. Mushnik daily. The chemistry Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. Little Shop of Horrors came out in 1986. Little Shop of Horrors earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Little Shop of Horrors is a strong candidate. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Rick Moranis anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.