Zoom

Zoom has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Hoopla, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 645 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Tim Allen is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Start it on Hoopla whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Zoom is worth clearing space for. Zoom gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Jack Shepard is an out-of-shape auto shop owner, far removed from the man who once protected the world's freedom. Reluctantly called back into action by the government, Jack is tasked with turning a ragtag group of kids with special powers into a new generation of superheroes to save the world from certain destruction. Tim Allen and Courteney Cox lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2006. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Zoom holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Zoom 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. Tim Allen is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.