Pretty Persuasion

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Pretty Persuasion is available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and The CW right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 148 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Evan Rachel Wood is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Pretty Persuasion is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Pretty Persuasion land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A 15-year-old girl incites chaos among her friends and a media frenzy when she accuses her drama teacher of sexual harassment. Evan Rachel Wood and Selma Blair lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2005. What keeps Pretty Persuasion 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.

Pretty Persuasion is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Evan Rachel Wood's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.