The Meddler

The Meddler, in Australia on Netflix and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, does something a lot of comedies forget to: it's consistently funny. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Susan Sarandon sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Start it on Netflix whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Meddler is worth clearing space for. The Meddler does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. With a new iPhone, an apartment near the Grove, and a comfortable bank account left to her by her beloved late husband, Marnie Minervini has happily relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be near her daughter Lori, a successful (but still single) screenwriter, and smother her with motherly love. But when the dozens of texts, unexpected visits, and conversations dominated by unsolicited advice force Lori to draw strict personal boundaries, Marnie finds ways to channel her eternal optimism and forceful generosity to change the lives of others - as well as her own - and find a new purpose in life. The chemistry Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It was released in 2016. The Meddler 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.

The Meddler 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. Susan Sarandon's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.

The Meddler was released in 2016, directed by Lorene Scafaria. The full 100-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.