In all honesty, I never thought I'd be dedicating a post to
an Adam Sandler film. I cannot express the dislike I have for this actor. I
hate all his films, except for Hotel Transylvania mostly because you can't see
him, but there are some hideous inaccuracies in that film that have made me
dislike it (for the millionth time, Frankenstein was the doctor NOT the monster,
SORT IT OUT Hotel Transylvania). So, maybe I do just dislike all Sandler’s
films then. I was subjected to ‘Big Daddy’ too many times in school. At the end
of term, teachers would put on a film but the only films the damn school seemed
to have was ‘Big Daddy’ and ‘Notting Hill’ which is why I can’t sit through
that film either. Moving on!
I hate Adam Sandler films and whenever I say this, I have
people suggest either ‘Punch Drunk Love’ (which I’ve not seen) or one of his
other terrible films. However, when I saw that there was a film called ‘Murder
Mystery’ (not inventive but to the point) I obviously was going to watch it.
Having Jennifer Aniston alongside Sandler softened the blow of potential disappointment.
But it gets better. Not only were Aniston and Sandler playing the American
couple invited along to a mysterious gathering but it was a gathering of British
actors (well, 5 but still) playing a family and close friends of said family.
In an American film, what’s more suspicious than a wealthy British family with
secrets? As well as the Brits there are Icelandic, Japanese, Mexican and South
African actors and to round out the cast, a French detective who is keen to pin
the murders on the random American couple who showed up. This is exactly the sort
of set up you want in an over the top murder mystery. As Mr and Mrs Spitz
taking their honeymoon 15 years after getting married, Nick is the police
officer having failed his detective exam many times but lying to his wife he
passed, Audrey is a hairdresser and keen murder mystery reader, each bring
their own ridiculous-ness to the plot. The Americans are the jokes, the suspects
and leads of the story and play up to the stereotypes perfectly, as does everyone
else in their role.
The plot is delightfully simple and actually funny
throughout, taking it’s the que from all the murder mysteries (particularly
Agatha Christie, because, of course!) before it. Outsider couple are invited to
an exclusive weekend on a fancy yacht with a group of people who are all
connected to the billionaire who hosts the party. A murder happens and everyone
is a suspect, but the police believe it be the outsider couple SO they have to
prove their innocence and find the killer, but as the holiday continues, the
bodies pile up.
The fact that Audrey really loves her murder mystery novels
(who doesn’t?) and excitedly points out how certain things happen in those genre
books and are mirrored in real life is exactly how I’d react. She solves clues just
as well or as badly as Nick does. The pairing of a would be detective and murder
mystery enthusiast is brilliant. In fact, I wouldn’t say no to a sequel. Murder
mystery has that appeal.
I do love a hitman story and film noir and neo noir but
murder mysteries will always be my favourite. It may be the set-up, the any
characters with secrets to reveal or the puzzle to solve, whatever it is I
always enjoy it. It’s just very surprising its on Netflix AND Sandler is in it,
so if I can overlook him, anyone can.