The Netflix empire has continued to grow and expand year after year, thanks in no small part to its catalogue of original content and partnerships with A-list creators. The latest big shot of original content comes from and stars Adam Sandler – a name tied to a wide spectrum of films ranging from great to… not so great. The relatively average Murder Mystery won’t alter this reputation much, however it is one of the actor’s better recent offerings and a decent adventure that pokes fun at the genre.
Sandler plays Nick Spitz, an NYPD officer who dreams of finally passing his detective exam after multiple failed attempts. Jennifer Aniston plays his wife of 15 years, Audrey – a hairdresser hooked on mystery novels and desperate for a holiday. Following an argument about their endlessly delayed European honeymoon, the couple finally board a plane across the pond. While onboard, Audrey runs into Charles (Luke Evans), a suave viscount that presents her and her husband with an offer: join a cruise on his fabulously wealthy and estranged uncle’s yacht to celebrate the old man’s recent wedding. It’s a nonsense setup that could only fly in a comedy, with the slow opening 20 minutes easily the weakest of the film.
It’s once the Spitz couple are aboard said yacht that things start to pick up a bit however, as the two are quickly introduced to the wider cast of eventual suspects. As with any great murder mystery, the characters here are total opposites that otherwise have no business being in the same room together. These include Russian bodyguard Sergei (Olafur Darri Olafsson), pro-racer Juan (Luis Gerardo), famous actress Grace (Gemma Arteton), one-handed Military Colonel Ulenga (John Kani), trophy wife Suzi (Shioli Kutsuna) and the billionaire’s only son Tobias (David Williams). Once the big murder finally happens, everyone has a motive – yet it’s the American couple’s unexplainable attendance at the gathering that makes them the prime suspects.
What follows are a series of escapades and misadventures between Nick and Audrey as the honeymooners attempt to avoid the authorities and find the real culprit. Sandler and Aniston have some decent chemistry as a quibbling married couple, and the plot moves along well during the later half as the two discuss their suspicions and plans as they go. Sandler playing a relatively normal character (for his standards) works in the film’s favour, as he keeps things relatively grounded throughout. In saying this, there are definitely a few jokes that fall pretty flat or go a bit far – with the supposed police officer at one point stealing a corpse’s tuxedo for no real reason.
Audiences may also find some of the more outrageous characters a bit hit and miss, depending on how they feel about low brow jokes and cheap laughs. Adeel Akhtar plays Vikram, a street-talking Maharaja who is also at the scene of the crime. Akhtar’s character is on screen purely for the laughs, and he quickly steals the spotlight whenever he’s around with some situational gags and his oblivious outlook on things. Another larger-than-life character stirring things up is Inspector Delacroix (Dany Boon), the French detective in charge of the murder investigation. A caricature of brooding detective stereotypes, the inspector spends his screentime puffing cigarettes and pointing the finger at all the wrong people. Not nearly as over the top as the Maharajah, the inspector can still bring out a laugh here or there for those not looking for thoughtful or creative comedy.
Thankfully there’s actually a decent amount of thought and respect going into the general plot outside of these moments. Aniston’s character is a huge fan of mystery novels, so it’s fun to watch her follow another supposed clue or play the spy whenever necessary. There’s also a good attention to detail on the tropes of murder mysteries, such as the lingering focus on items that don’t seem important to the untrained eye, as well as the odd red herring and twist mixed in for good measure. It’s no Poirot or Sherlock Holmes, but it’s some enjoyable sleuthing that keeps you guessing despite the hijinks going on throughout.
All in all, Netflix’s Murder Mystery is a decent attempt at a genre mash-up that hasn’t been done to death like other generic ideas recently. There’s enough pace and plot in the second half to keep things running, despite the hit and miss laughs and a painfully slow start. Give it a watch if you’re looking for some light-hearted escapades and some big names in a nice European setting – there are plenty of worse ways to spend a night in front of the TV.
Murder Mystery stars Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, David Williams, Gemma Arteton, John Kani, Shioli Kutsuna & Dany Boon – Streaming now on Netflix.