The Rules of Attraction

The Rules of Attraction, in Australia on Hoopla, and in the US on Hulu and Philo, 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. With 620 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. James Van Der Beek leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

The Rules of Attraction arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The Rules of Attraction does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. The incredibly spoiled and overprivileged students of Camden College are a backdrop for an unusual love triangle between a drug dealer, a virgin and a bisexual classmate. James Van Der Beek and Shannyn Sossamon lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It was released in 2002. The timing in The Rules of Attraction is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

The Rules of Attraction is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. James Van Der Beek'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 Rules of Attraction was released in 2002, directed by Roger Avary. The full 110-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.