Hudson Hawk

Right now you can watch Hudson Hawk in the UK on Netflix — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 1,146 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Bruce Willis — stay for everyone else around them. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Hudson Hawk is worth clearing space for. The jokes in Hudson Hawk land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Eddie Hawkins, called Hudson Hawk has just been released from ten years of prison and is planning to spend the rest of his life honestly. But then the crazy Mayflower couple blackmail him to steal some of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. If he refuses, they threaten to kill his friend Tommy. Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1991. The timing in Hudson Hawk 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.

Hudson Hawk is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Bruce Willis is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.