Hop

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Hop is available in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it for Russell Brand — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on Foxtel Now and see for yourself.

There is a reason Hop keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Hop land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. E.B., the Easter Bunny's teenage son, heads to Hollywood, determined to become a drummer in a rock 'n' roll band. In L.A., he's taken in by Fred after the out-of-work slacker hits E.B. With his car. Russell Brand and James Marsden lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 2011. The timing in Hop is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Hop is a strong candidate. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Russell Brand anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.