Escape from Planet Earth

Escape from Planet Earth is currently streaming in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Angel Studios, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Rob Corddry is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Stan.

Escape from Planet Earth arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Escape from Planet Earth land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Astronaut Scorch Supernova finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet. Rob Corddry and Brendan Fraser lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2013. What keeps Escape from Planet Earth from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. 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 Escape from Planet Earth. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Rob Corddry anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.