It is practically impossible for me to return something on time—library books, borrowed clothes from my friends, even DVDs from the local video store in my old neighborhood that offered free pick up. I thought a Netflix DVD subscription would be perfect, but that required finding a mailbox, which are in increasingly rare supply on NYC street corners these days.
So I recently “downgraded” to a streaming-only subscription, which requires absolutely no effort on my part to maintain. Granted, it does not have the most user-friendly of formats (see The Onion’s article about the $5 “unlimited browsing” parody last month) but, I promise, there are many instant options to help you unwind after work or encourage laziness on the weekends. Here are some of my favorites.
If you are in the mood for romance: Shakespeare in Love
If you are excited about Neil Patrick Harris starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway: Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog
If you need a feel good story with a side of British accents: The King’s Speech
If you long for the days of childhood sleepovers: The Fox & The Hound and The Rescuers
If you need to get in touch with your inner teenager: Clueless
If you need to laugh until you cry: Zoolander
If you just need to cry (a lot): Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias
If Wesley in The Princess Bride is your ideal man: Robin Hood, Men In Tights
If you need to believe there is hope for the future: Brooklyn Castle
If you love Jennifer Garner but aren’t in the mood for 13 Going on 30: Butter
If you want a master class in acting and don’t mind being disturbed to get it: There Will Be Blood
If you need a dose of old-school Hollywood glamour to get the tabloid taste out of your mouth: All About Eve
If you think that Angelina Jolie should have skipped her Billy Bob Thornton phase, left Brad Pitt to Jennifer Aniston, and stuck with Jonny Lee Miller: Mansfield Park
If Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s death made you mourn the loss of all the characters he wouldn’t get to create: A Late Quartet
If you don’t yet understand the phrase “What Would Riggins Do?”: Friday Night Lights (the TV series)
If you want an excuse for a cocktail: Prohibition
