MURDER MYSTERY
US, 2019, 97 minute, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Jennifer Anniston, Luke Evans, Gemma Arterton, Terence Stamp, David Walliams, Dany Boon, John Kanni.
Directed by Kyle Newcheck.
This is a direct to Netflix release. And, Netflix released information that on its first weekend available, it was seen by 30 million audiences worldwide, a record.
In a way, this is rather surprising because it is an Adam Sandler film and he is not to everyone’s taste, to say the least. However, he must be feeling vindicated after news of this statistic. (It is not that he is any different in this film than he is in others, a mixture of irritant and entertainment.)
This is one of those enjoyably concocted plots, very much in the vein of Cluedo, a gathering of all kinds of diverse characters, an exposition which gives many reasons for a murder, then the murder itself, and then the investigation. As always, we have to look for the least likely suspect – and, even if someone worksout/guesses whodunnit, there is still the complexity of how the murder was done and the why.
In fact, Adam Sandler plays a detective – though not quite, he has failed his exams three times but is too embarrassed to tell his devoted (sometimes one wonders why) wife, played enthusiastically by Jennifer Aniston. He rashly promises to take her on the trip to Europe, making himself comically obnoxious on the plane, questioning the service in first-class, wondering about his wife when he finds her talking to one of those handsome types Luke Evans) who looks as if he could be a killer whenever the murder occurs!
But, the connection with him is a good connection and off they go with him to the family villa in the south of France. There they come across his relatives, the mansion owned by his uncle, various financial advisors and international characters – all potentially suspicious, of course, the lord of the manor is played by Terence Stamp in a rather arrogant style. So, it is not surprising when the lights go out, he is found stabbed, a suspicious knife with blood and everyone potentially compromised.
It is time for Adam and Jennifer, 21st-century kind of Nick and Nora, to go into action – except that they come under main suspicion for being there, denouncing his false claim to be a detective. The French police, led by comedian Dany Boone, pursue them unquestioningly and relentlessly.
This leads to quite an amount of travel over the European countryside, impossible situations which they get themselves out of, a succession of deaths (including a couple who were the main suspects).
Of course, lots of complications, the murderer attacking our couple, some literal unmasking, and something of a puzzle about how it happened until, of course, one of those scenes were everybody is gathered together (those who have survived!) And a reasonable explanation given.
And, apologies from the French police, and a happy ever after ending for Adam and Jennifer.
Many comic touches – including some quite crude – making a rather ordinary kind of movie but, at home with Netflix, it fits the bill and lives up to its title.
