The Boss Baby

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, The Boss Baby is available in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Netflix right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Alec Baldwin is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

The Boss Baby arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate The Boss Baby from the crowd. A story about how a new baby's arrival impacts a family, told from the point of view of a delightfully unreliable narrator, a wildly imaginative 7 year old named Tim. Alec Baldwin and Steve Buscemi lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2017. What keeps The Boss Baby 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.

The Boss Baby is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Alec Baldwin is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.