Clue

Clue is currently streaming in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, and in the UK on Paramount Plus, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,984 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Tim Curry is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Kanopy and see for yourself.

Clue arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Clue land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit before the body count rises. Between them, Tim Curry and Eileen Brennan carry the comedy without ever forcing it. Clue came out in 1985. Clue earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Clue. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Tim Curry sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.