Rushmore

Rushmore has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hoopla. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 2,749 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Jason Schwartzman 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 Disney Plus.

Rushmore is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The jokes in Rushmore land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When a beautiful first-grade teacher arrives at a prep school, she soon attracts the attention of an ambitious teenager named Max, who quickly falls in love with her. Max turns to the father of two of his schoolmates for advice on how to woo the teacher. However, the situation soon gets complicated when Max's new friend becomes involved with her, setting the two pals against one another in a war for her attention. Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1998. What keeps Rushmore 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.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Rushmore is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Jason Schwartzman sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.