Hall Pass

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Hall Pass is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Peacock Premium right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Owen Wilson is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Hall Pass arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Hall Pass land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. When best buds Rick and Fred begin to show signs of restlessness at home, their wives take a bold approach to revitalize their marriages, they grant the guys a 'hall pass'—one week of freedom to do whatever they want. At first, it seems like a dream come true, but they quickly discover that their expectations of the single life—and themselves—are completely and hilariously out of sync with reality. Between them, Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2011. Hall Pass earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Hall Pass respects your intelligence. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Owen Wilson's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.