M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube TV. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 1,167 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Donald Sutherland's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Disney Plus.

M*A*S*H is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. M*A*S*H does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. One of the world's most acclaimed comedies, M*A*S*H focuses on three Korean War Army surgeons brilliantly brought to life by Donald Sutherland, Tom Skerritt and Elliott Gould. Though highly skilled and deeply dedicated, they adopt a hilarious, lunatic lifestyle as an antidote to the tragedies of their Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and in the process infuriate Army bureaucrats. Robert Duvall, Gary Burghoff and Sally Kellerman co-star as a sanctimonious Major, an other-worldly Corporal, and a self-righteous yet lusty nurse. Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould lead a cast that never overplays a joke. M*A*S*H came out in 1970. The timing in M*A*S*H is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

M*A*S*H is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Donald Sutherland is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.