Spy

Spy is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus and Stan, and in the US on fuboTV and Starz Apple TV Channel, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 6,444 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Melissa McCarthy'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.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Spy is worth clearing space for. Spy gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster. Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 2015. The timing in Spy 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.

Spy is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Melissa McCarthy's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.