Tammy and the T-Rex

Tammy and the T-Rex has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in the US on YouTube TV and Night Flight Plus. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 181 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Denise Richards is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on YouTube TV and see for yourself.

Tammy and the T-Rex arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Tammy and the T-Rex land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. An evil scientist implants the brain of a murdered high school student into an animatronic Tyrannosaurus, who later wreaks vengeance on the bullies who killed him, and is reunited with his sweetheart. Denise Richards and Paul Walker lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1994. Tammy and the T-Rex 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.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Tammy and the T-Rex is a strong candidate. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Denise Richards's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.