I grew up watching Adam Sandler movies. Happy Gilmore (1996) and Billy Madison (1995) helped define my sense of humor as a young man.
In the years since, however, it seems my tastes have grown up, and Adam Sandler's have not. I have stayed away from most of the man's work because most of it is trash.
But I have always maintained that the man is a good actor. His dramatic turns in Punch Drunk Love (2002) and Funny People (2009) prove that when he's on, he's great.
So I was a little wary of his newest, Murder Mystery, which just dropped on Netflix.
But we stayed through the trailer on Netflix' homescreen, and ya know what? I was intrigued. In fact, I was amused. And so my wife and I decided to give it a spin.
I. What Is It?
This is the story of Nick and Audrey Spitz, the European vacation they always dreamed of going on, and the series of murders that complicates it in hilarious fashion.II. Ode to Christie
I am slowly becoming an "Old White Guy," and, as such, am beginning to become enamored of detective fiction and good old fashioned murder mysteries. Check your dad or uncle's bookshelves: you'll find them chockablock with detective books and classic mysteries. I don't know why this is so. It just is.
This film is a love letter, and a good-natured parody, of those kinds of stories.
The movie has all of the familiar elements: a cast of colorful characters; a remote, exotic location; a European inspector; and a scene where our heroes break it all down for the audience. We all know the archetypes and the twists.
But the film injects some silliness into the proceedings, by centering the film around a bumbling American couple who act as the film's REAL detectives (the TRUE detectives, if you will). The Spitzes are our fish out of water. They constantly bicker, deliver hilarious and petty asides to themselves, and generally do their best in a situation wherein they are wildly out of their depth.
Screenwriter, James Vanderbilt, is clearly a fan of the classic mystery and he walks a delicate edge between pastiche and parody with surprising skill. There are, unfortunately, a few recurring immature dick jokes, that kind of derail the film's cleverness, but I was able to look past those in the grander scheme of things.
Murder Mystery wrings a lot of humor out of playing in this familiar sandbox with these familiar toys. If you are a fan of the murder mystery, you will likely enjoy this movie.
- It is fun, and at a breezy 97 minutes, it won't waste your time.This film is a love letter, and a good-natured parody, of those kinds of stories.
The movie has all of the familiar elements: a cast of colorful characters; a remote, exotic location; a European inspector; and a scene where our heroes break it all down for the audience. We all know the archetypes and the twists.
But the film injects some silliness into the proceedings, by centering the film around a bumbling American couple who act as the film's REAL detectives (the TRUE detectives, if you will). The Spitzes are our fish out of water. They constantly bicker, deliver hilarious and petty asides to themselves, and generally do their best in a situation wherein they are wildly out of their depth.
Screenwriter, James Vanderbilt, is clearly a fan of the classic mystery and he walks a delicate edge between pastiche and parody with surprising skill. There are, unfortunately, a few recurring immature dick jokes, that kind of derail the film's cleverness, but I was able to look past those in the grander scheme of things.
Murder Mystery wrings a lot of humor out of playing in this familiar sandbox with these familiar toys. If you are a fan of the murder mystery, you will likely enjoy this movie.
III. Great Chemistry
Aniston and Sandler are great together. They feel like a real married couple, sniping at and appreciating each other in equal, loving, measure. She is constantly on her phone, it in its absurd phone purse combo, and he is always decked in the accoutrement of the schlubby white dude: ill-fitting Hawaiian shirts and baggy cargo shorts, with an ace mustache to boot. Their dynamic works, and they deliver charm and heart with gusto.
IV. Surprisingly Well-Constructed
Director Kyle Newacheck keeps the proceedings moving like a Formula One racer, rarely slowing down and racing towards the conclusion. He balances the dolling out of clues cleverly, keeps the twists coming at opportune moments, and ferries the whole production to a satisfying end.
The production design, also, is incredible. The costuming is fun, and clearly delineates character: Aniston's fashionable middle-aged sun dresses, replete with chunky heeled wedges, Sandler's too-real too-large shirts (be they of the Hawaiian or Polo variety), as well as the Maharaja's decadent silks, the General's stiff military garb, or Luke Evans' GQ suits. Everyone looks the part, and their wardrobe helps support their characters.
We get to globe-trot a little with these bumbling Americans through Monaco, and the film serves great locations: grand hotels, fancy yachts, cobbled back alleys, and grand libraries and opulent villas.
Amir Mokri's photography is gorgeous, well-balanced, and sneakily fun to look at. It isn't over-the-top auteur artistry, but the leading lines and shot comp make this a film that is as fun to look at as it is to suss out its mystery.
The production design, also, is incredible. The costuming is fun, and clearly delineates character: Aniston's fashionable middle-aged sun dresses, replete with chunky heeled wedges, Sandler's too-real too-large shirts (be they of the Hawaiian or Polo variety), as well as the Maharaja's decadent silks, the General's stiff military garb, or Luke Evans' GQ suits. Everyone looks the part, and their wardrobe helps support their characters.
We get to globe-trot a little with these bumbling Americans through Monaco, and the film serves great locations: grand hotels, fancy yachts, cobbled back alleys, and grand libraries and opulent villas.
Amir Mokri's photography is gorgeous, well-balanced, and sneakily fun to look at. It isn't over-the-top auteur artistry, but the leading lines and shot comp make this a film that is as fun to look at as it is to suss out its mystery.
Why You Should See It
- Fans of classic mysteries will enjoy it as a light snack between reads.
- There's set up for a sequel, at the end, that I am 100% game for. If the Spitzes become the stars of a series of absurd Fish Out of Water mystery movies, I'll go along for the ride.
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