Robots

Robots is currently streaming in the US on Hulu, and in the UK on Disney Plus, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 4,961 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ewan McGregor's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Hulu.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Robots is worth clearing space for. Robots does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. Rodney Copperbottom is a young robot inventor who dreams of making the world a better place, until the evil Ratchet takes over Bigweld Industries. Now, Rodney's dreams – and those of his friends – are in danger of becoming obsolete. Ewan McGregor and Halle Berry lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 2005. What keeps Robots from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Robots. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Ewan McGregor's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.