Kick-Ass 2

Kick-Ass 2 has quietly become one of the more dependable crime dramas currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the UK on Netflix. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 6,631 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Aaron Taylor-Johnson's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Kick-Ass 2 is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Kick-Ass 2 treats its mystery as a means, not an end in itself. After Kick-Ass’ insane bravery inspires a new wave of self-made masked crusaders, he joins a patrol led by the Colonel Stars and Stripes. When these amateur superheroes are hunted down by Red Mist — reborn as The Mother Fucker — only the blade-wielding Hit-Girl can prevent their annihilation. Credit to Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Chloë Grace Moretz for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It was released in 2013. What makes Kick-Ass 2 hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Kick-Ass 2 will keep you hooked. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Aaron Taylor-Johnson anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.