Isle of Dogs

Right now you can watch Isle of Dogs in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus and HBO Max Amazon Channel — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 5,460 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Bryan Cranston leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

Isle of Dogs arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Isle of Dogs land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. In the future, an outbreak of canine flu leads the mayor of a Japanese city to banish all dogs to an island used as a garbage dump. The outcasts must soon embark on an epic journey when a 12-year-old boy arrives on the island to find his beloved pet. The chemistry Bryan Cranston and Koyu Rankin bring to it does a lot of the heavy lifting. It hit screens in 2018. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and Isle of Dogs holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Isle of Dogs. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Bryan Cranston is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.