Men, Women & Children

Right now you can watch Men, Women & Children in the US on Hoopla, and in the UK on Netflix — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 990 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Adam Sandler — stay for everyone else around them. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Men, Women & Children is worth clearing space for. Men, Women & Children does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Follows the story of a group of high school teenagers and their parents as they attempt to navigate the many ways the internet has changed their relationships, their communication, their self-image, and their love lives. Adam Sandler and Jennifer Garner lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2014. What keeps Men, Women & Children from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Men, Women & Children respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Adam Sandler is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.