The Paper, Ron Howard’s underappreciated 1994 comedy drama, is latest in our series in which writers highlight their favourite comfort films

I can’t claim to like many Ron Howard films. And probably few of his devoted fans count The Paper, the director’s 1994 comedy-drama about a day in the life of a New York tabloid, among their favourites. It is, at best, a three-star film, which received mixed reviews and has faded from memory – but it’s also a perfect mid-range movie featuring adults. The much-lamented genre of not very serious but not stupid, well-crafted films in the non-spandex-or-franchise cinematic universe.

This, to me, is the essence of a feelgood film: it’s a crisp 112 minutes, it doesn’t strain for awards or grandeur, it has drama and humour, and fine actors you recognise. Perhaps previously it would have simply been called middlebrow. Sometimes that’s just what you need.