Now and Then

Now and Then is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 481 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Christina Ricci sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Now and Then is worth clearing space for. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Now and Then from the crowd. Waxing nostalgic about the bittersweet passage from childhood to puberty, four childhood girlfriends — Teeny, Chrissy, Samantha and Roberta — recall the magical summer of 1970. During their walk down memory lane, they reconcile experiences with boys, secrets, bullies and more. Christina Ricci and Rosie O'Donnell lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1995. Now and Then earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Now and Then is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Christina Ricci is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.