The Sunshine Boys

Between the constant churn of new releases, The Sunshine Boys in the US on Darkroom is the comedy actually worth stopping for. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Walter Matthau leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight on Darkroom and see for yourself.

The Sunshine Boys arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The Sunshine Boys gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Lewis and Clark, aka The Sunshine Boys, were famous comedians during the vaudeville era, but off-stage they couldn't stand each other and haven't spoken in over 20 years of retirement. Willy Clark's nephew is the producer of a TV variety show that wants to feature a reunion of this classic duo. It is up to him to try to get the Sunshine Boys back together again. Between them, Walter Matthau and George Burns carry the comedy without ever forcing it. The Sunshine Boys came out in 1975. The timing in The Sunshine Boys is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Sunshine Boys is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Walter Matthau is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

The Sunshine Boys was released in 1975, directed by Herbert Ross. The full 111-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.