Movie Review: Murder Mystery (2019)

Genre: Crime Comedy  

Director: Kyle Newachek  

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton, Luke Evans  

Running Time: 97 minutes  

Synopsis: New York City beat cop Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler) pretends to be a detective to impress his wife Audrey (Jennifer Aniston), a hairdresser. While traveling on a cheap European vacation, they meet the dashing Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans), who invites them to a yacht off Monaco. Nick and Audrey are misfits in the company of Charles' ultra wealthy uncle Malcolm Quince (Terence Stamp), his new young bride, his useless son, his former bodyguard, the bodyguard's bodyguard, a glamorous actress (Gemma Arterton), a racing car driver, and a Maharajah. When a murder is committed, Nick and Audrey are prime suspects and have to solve the crime to clear their names.

What Works Well: A breezy, never-too-serious crime comedy that rides good chemistry between Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. A murder-most-foul Agatha Christie whodunnit ambience, plenty of fish-out-of-water vibes, and a few good laughs complement the two stars. The glitzy European locations are attractive, and the efficient running time keeps the action humming.

What Does Not Work As Well: Killing off most of the suspect list (and they die early and often) is not the most clever way to maintain mystery and investigative momentum. Other than Nick and Audrey, the characters are superficial stereotypes, and of course the plotting is frivolous and less than interested in any logic.

Key Quote:

Audrey Spitz: What's that?

Charles Cavendish: That is the Quince dagger. Chinese steel, jewels from across the Orient. A gift to the family from Marco Polo. Or so the legend says.

Audrey Spitz: God. Nick's grandmother gave us a toaster from Sears. Or so the legend says.

All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.