What's Streaming: 'They Came Together' with Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd

There's a certain comfort in the predictability of romantic comedies; sometimes it's the clichés that make the movie part of the genre. But in "They Came Together," those rom-com clichés are fodder for the jokes that make this movie the sharp parody it is.

The movie comes to us from David Wain and Michael Showalter, the team that brought us the cult classic "Wet Hot American Summer." This time, instead of lampooning teen movies and camp culture, they're taking on the romantic comedy.

"They Came Together" stars a veritable who's-who of comedy, led by Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd as Molly and Joel. They're every rom-com couple you've ever seen, from Molly's quirky klutziness to Joel's unassuming everyman persona. They meet, they hate each other, they fall in love, they break up, they get back together in dramatic fashion.

Wain and Showalter do some fun stuff in making fun of the genre, including a hilarious sex scene that involves knocking over as many tasteful wicker shelves in the throes of passion as possible and a terrific running gag that plays on the dialogue cliché of catching someone just before they walk out the door (or not).

But "They Came Together" suffers from an overdeveloped self awareness. With "Wet Hot American Summer," the characters live in that world and present the absurdity of everything that happens with complete earnesty. "They Came Together" has some of that same earnesty, but it spends too much time commenting on its own jokes. As much as I love Bill Hader and Ellie Kemper, some of the cuts back to the present as Joel and Molly recount their tale are a bit too much of a wink and a nod to the audience.

Still, those who loved "Wet Hot American Summer" or "Stella" will likely get a kick out of "They Came Together." And with streaming rentals available through services like Amazon and iTunes for about $6.99 while the movie is still in theaters, it makes for a fun weekend watch.

Check out the movie's page on Yidio for more on how to rent "They Came Together" at home!