Absolutely Anything

Right now you can watch Absolutely Anything in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and The CW — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 1,647 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Simon Pegg leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on Foxtel Now whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Absolutely Anything is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Absolutely Anything land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Eccentric aliens give a man the power to do anything he wants to determine if Earth is worth saving. Simon Pegg and Kate Beckinsale lead a cast with the timing to make it work. Absolutely Anything came out in 2015. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Absolutely Anything holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Absolutely Anything respects your intelligence. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Simon Pegg is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.