The Ref

Skip the endless scrolling — The Ref, in the US on Hoopla, is exactly the comedy you were looking for. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Denis Leary's performance alone is worth the time investment. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Ref arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in The Ref land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. A cat burglar is forced to take a bickering, dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve. Between them, Denis Leary and Judy Davis carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It was released in 1994. What keeps The Ref from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Ref respects your intelligence. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Denis Leary is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

The Ref was released in 1994, directed by Ted Demme. The full 97-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.