Who's That Girl

Right now you can watch Who's That Girl in the US on Kanopy — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 253 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Madonna's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight on Kanopy and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Who's That Girl earns its spot. The jokes in Who's That Girl land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. An uptight New York City tax lawyer gets his life turned upside down one day when he's asked to escort a feisty free-spirited ex-convict who asks him to help prove her innocence of her crime. Madonna and Griffin Dunne lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 1987. The timing in Who's That Girl 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.

Who's That Girl is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Madonna is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.