Oliver & Company

Right now you can watch Oliver & Company in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Joey Lawrence's performance alone is worth the time investment. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Oliver & Company is worth clearing space for. Oliver & Company does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Putting its own 'twist' on the story of Oliver Twist, the orange runt of a litter of kittens must fight for survival on the rough streets on New York City, finding unlikely friends in the dogs owned by a down-on-his luck man named Fagin. Soon, Oliver and his new band of comrades must fight for survival when Fagin is unable to pay his debts. Joey Lawrence and Billy Joel lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1988. What keeps Oliver & Company 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.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Oliver & Company. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Joey Lawrence's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.