Tom and Jerry: The Movie

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Tom and Jerry: The Movie is available on streaming right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Richard Kind is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Tom and Jerry: The Movie is worth clearing space for. Tom and Jerry: The Movie gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. The popular cartoon cat and mouse are thrown into a feature film. The story has the twosome trying to help an orphan girl who is being berated and exploited by a greedy guardian. Richard Kind and Dana Hill lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1992. What keeps Tom and Jerry: The Movie 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.

Tom and Jerry: The Movie 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. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Richard Kind is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.