Must Love Dogs

Right now you can watch Must Love Dogs on streaming — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 497 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Diane Lane leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Must Love Dogs is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Must Love Dogs gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Sarah Nolan is a newly divorced woman cautiously rediscovering romance with the enthusiastic but often misguided help of her well-meaning family. As she braves a series of hilarious disastrous mismatches and first dates, Sarah begins to trust her own instincts again and learns that, no matter what, it's never a good idea to give up on love. Diane Lane and John Cusack lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2005. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Must Love Dogs holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Must Love Dogs is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Diane Lane is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.