Despicable Me

Right now you can watch Despicable Me in Australia on BINGE and Foxtel Now, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and Cinemax Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 16,157 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Steve Carell leads a cast with real comic timing. Start it on BINGE whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Despicable Me is worth clearing space for. Despicable Me gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Determined to prove he's the world's greatest supervillain, Gru hatches an audacious plan to steal the Moon. To pull it off, he adopts three orphaned girls—Margo, Edith, and Agnes—intending to use them as part of his scheme. But the unexpected bond they form forces him to question the life he's always known. Between them, Steve Carell and Jason Segel carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2010. What keeps Despicable Me from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Despicable Me is a strong candidate. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Steve Carell 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.