This John Ritter Sci-Fi Movie Is A Quirky 85-Minute Comedy You Can Stream For Free

John Ritter is best known for his work on sitcoms like "Three's Company" and "8 Simple Rules," the latter of which he was starring in at the time of his untimely death in 2003 at age 54. But while Ritter is a comedic icon, his extensive list of credits also includes a forgotten sci-fi comedy called "Real Men," a 1987 film directed by Dennis Feldman that also stars Jim Belushi. The full movie is available to stream for free on Tubi, a popular platform for those looking to replace premium streaming services.

"Real Men" tells the story of womanizing FBI agent Nick (Belushi) and awkward insurance agent Bob (Ritter). After a chemical spill threatens all life on Earth, aliens offer to help if humanity can fulfill their single request: a glass of water delivered by the only human they trust. However, when the CIA agent in question is suddenly killed, Nick recruits Bob, who looks enough like the dead agent to hopefully fool the aliens. Though willing to help, Bob's meekness presents a challenge, as do Nick's playboy ways.

While it has sci-fi elements, "Real Men" is basically a buddy comedy between Belushi and Ritter, who make a great pair. Unfortunately, critics and most viewers didn't feel the same way, and in a year that also gave audiences iconic buddy comedies "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" and "Three Men and a Baby," it makes sense why this less-than-stellar film was largely forgotten.

At the time, critics didn't find much to like about "Real Men." Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail's Rick Groen (via Metacritic) slammed the movie for its "Non-existent direction, inane plot, inflated acting," and The Associated Press' Robert Dvorchak called it "a far-out farce about male bonding and role reversals that sinks under the weight of its own absurdity."

"Real Men" didn't fare any better at the box office, making only $873,903 worldwide, which shouldn't be too surprising considering the studio was so disappointed in the final product that it only released in two major cities. That almost certainly didn't cover its production costs, though there is no public information about its actual budget. It sits at 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, 5.9/10 on IMDB, and 2.8/5 stars on Letterboxd. Most contemporary reviews are also mixed to negative, including one Letterboxd user who called it "a disservice to John Ritter." That isn't to say that "Real Men" has no real fans.

AV Club called the movie "one of the most underrated comedies of the '80s," viewing it as a "semi-satire" that "embraces its absurdity." Similarly, a Reddit user called it a "remote drop for me every time it's on." While it's definitely not for everyone, it's worth a watch for those who enjoy silly comedies. If you enjoy "Real Men," you'll probably also like "Coneheads," Saturday Night Live's panned sci-fi comedy based on a bit from the original cast. If you're looking for more movies you can stream for free, there's an obscure Bruce Campbell sci-fi murder mystery available on Fandango and YouTube.