The Green Hornet

Right now you can watch The Green Hornet in Australia on Foxtel Now — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 3,508 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Seth Rogen is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Available now on Foxtel Now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

The Green Hornet arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in The Green Hornet land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Britt Reid, the heir to the largest newspaper fortune in Los Angeles, is a spoiled playboy who has been, thus far, happy to lead an aimless life. After his father dies, Britt meets Kato, a resourceful company employee. Realizing that they have the talent and resources to make something of their lives, Britt and Kato join forces as costumed crime-fighters to bring down the city's most-powerful criminal, Chudnofsky. Seth Rogen and Jay Chou lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2011. What keeps The Green Hornet from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

The Green Hornet 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. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Seth Rogen's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.