Albert Brooks, the funnier, just as neurotic, but less creepy Woody Allen, has seven of his movies streaming on Netflix beginning tomorrow. This is fantastic news, and I do believe a full-on Brooks Binge is on my upcoming calendar.

Brooks, a vastly under-appreciated comedy filmmaker, is a master of dry wit and satire, and the characters he plays in every film are full of Jewish angst, but it’s a more subtle concoction that manages to comment on modern relationships (and the self-involved inhabitants of L.A.) without beating you over the head with directly-emoted feelings like Sir Woody is prone to do. Brooks is also regularly hilarious on Twitter, and I heartily recommend following him there.

Directly off Netflix’s press release, here are the seven movies you will be able to stream:

• “Defending Your Life” (1991): A man who dies and arrives in the afterlife only to find that he must stand trial and justify his lifelong fears in order to advance to the next phase of existence; or be sent back to earth to do it again. The film stars Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep and Rip Torn.
• “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” (2006): To improve its relations with Muslim countries, the United States government sends comedian Albert Brooks to south Asia to write a report on what makes followers of Islam laugh. The film stars Albert Brooks, Sheetal Sheth and John Carroll Lynch.
• “Lost in America” (1985): A 30-something married couple, inspired by the film Easy Rider, decide to drop out, quit their jobs, sell their home and travel across America in a Winnebago. The film stars Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty.
• “Modern Romance” (1981): A successful film editor with far too many issues affects the relationship between him and his remarkably patient girlfriend. The film stars Albert Brooks, Kathryn Harrold, Bruno Kirby and George Kennedy.
• “Mother”: A neurotic successful sci-fi writer is finalizing his second divorce, and is perplexed by the issues he has with women. He decides to initiate a project that will help him understand what went wrong in his relationships — he moves back in with his mother. The film stars Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds.
• “The Muse” (1999): A Hollywood screenwriter seemingly has it all, but he’s hit an artistic dry patch, so his writer friend recommends the services of a woman he swears is a veritable muse. Steven takes her on and is suddenly more inspired to create. Her services, however, come at a very steep price and Steven becomes suspicious about who Sarah really is and what she wants. The film stars Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Jeff Bridges and Andie MacDowell.
• “Real Life” (1979): Brooks, in this spoof of 1973 reality TV program “An American Family,” portrays a documentary filmmaker who attempts to live with and film a dysfunctional family for one full year. Also stars Charles Grodin, Frances Lee McCain, J.A. Preston and Matthew Tobin.

I have seen all of these except Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, and boy am I ever curious to see that one now. Real Life, Brooks’ first film, was vastly ahead of its time, a spoof of reality shows inspired by PBS’ documentary series about the Loud family of Santa Barbara.  Modern Romance, still my favorite Brooks, is an hysterical depiction of an L.A. film editor’s on-off-on-off-on etc. relationship with his girlfriend, co-stars the late and great Bruno Kirby as his supportive best friend, and contains one of the funniest drug-taking scenes ever put on film, when Brooks slips a few quaaludes alone in his apartment and slowly loses his mind. It also features Brooks’ real-life brother, “Super Dave Osborne” in this great scene in a running store…

Lost In America is also a classic, containing one of the funniest losing-your-job scenes ever put on film, with Julie Hagerty of Airplane! and What About Bob? fame turning in her greatest performance as Brooks’ gambling-addicted wife. Defending Your Life is just a brilliant concept, and features a funny and sweet Meryl Streep and excellent Rip Torn. Mother and The Muse are less perfect films, but compared to the routine bromantic slop Hollywood tries to pass for comedy these days, are more than worth your time—and Mother stars legendary Debbie Reynolds in the title role!

Anyway, enough of my yappin’. Crank up the old iPad this holiday and enjoy!!