Maverick

Maverick is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 1,795 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Mel Gibson is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Maverick arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Maverick land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Bret Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them, and needs an additional $3k in order to enter a winner-takes-all poker game beginning in a few days. He joins forces with a woman with a marvelous Southern accent, and the two try and enter the game. Between them, Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster carry the comedy without ever forcing it. Maverick came out in 1994. What keeps Maverick from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, Maverick respects your intelligence. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Mel Gibson anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.