Three Kings

Right now you can watch Three Kings in Australia on Stan, and in the US on Hoopla — and it is funnier than its reputation suggests. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. George Clooney's performance alone is worth the time investment. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Stan.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Three Kings is worth clearing space for. Three Kings does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A group of American soldiers stationed in Iraq at the end of the Gulf War find a map they believe will take them to a huge cache of stolen Kuwaiti gold hidden near their base, and they embark on a secret mission that's destined to change everything. George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1999. What keeps Three Kings 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.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Three Kings is a strong candidate. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. George Clooney sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.