A sequel to 2019’s Murder Mystery, this action comedy whodunnit follows Nick (Adam Sandler) and Audrey Spitz (Jennifer Aniston), who attend their friend Vikram Govindan AKA The Maharajah’s wedding on his private island. Unfortunately, when he gets kidnapped, the vacation turns into another twisted case for the couple. The film is now streaming on Netflix.
Story
Murder Mystery 2 opens with Nick and Audrey running a private investigation agency after solving the murder case in the previous film. Having quit their jobs, they put all their effort into this new venture.
Unfortunately, it hasn’t taken off, and its reputation starts falling due to botched jobs. They soon receive a phone call from their wealthy Indian businessman friend from the last film, Vikram “Vik” Govindan AKA The Maharajah.
He invites the couple to his wedding on his private island for the weekend. Nick and Audrey agree that this getaway is just what they need and make the journey.
Sadly, the groom gets kidnapped during the Sangeet ceremony, and every close accomplice, including the fiancée, is a suspect. As the couple begins their investigation, an ex-MI6 agent and professional detective Connor Miller enters the picture.
Performances
Sandler and Aniston are in their element as Nick and Audrey. Their chemistry is fabulous and their comic timing is eerily similar to a chaotic real-life couple. They are just the right amount of goofy and lovable as the film’s leads.
Mark Strong plays the antagonist Connor Miller, and this role is a cakewalk for him after playing numerous negative characters in the past. His screen presence is immaculate, and he proves to be a worthy foe to the Spitzes.
Mélanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Kani, Kuhoo Verma, Dany Boon, Adeel Akhtar, Enrique Arce, and Zurin Villanueva make up the supporting cast. The ensemble is the perfect addition to the film and each actor brings something uniquely funny and bizarre to the narrative.
Positives
Murder Mystery 2 delivers a light-hearted adventure with surprisingly curious plot developments. The Spitzes are perfectly relatable vessels to lead the narrative as they act as regular people who find themselves embroiled in extravagant schemes.
Director Jeremy Garelick and writer James Vanderbilt keep you guessing and present numerous false trails to follow. However, there is enough foreshadowing throughout the film to help you guess the identity of the kidnapper.
The film doesn’t try to go overboard with the mystery and action part and keeps it light. This is exactly what you expect from an Adam Sandler comedy flick.
Furthermore, it flies by really quickly. With 89 minutes of runtime, swift pacing, and crisp editing, you won’t feel any sense of drag or boredom.
Lastly, the production value is extremely high, and the film looks and feels polished. The Indian wedding dance sequence and the Eiffel tower fight scene are just a few examples of great sets, costumes, and visual effects.
Negatives
Even with low expectations, to begin with, the comedy element falls slightly flat. Sure, a lot of jokes do make you chuckle, but there are barely any that make you laugh out loud.
For the most part, the intrigue surrounding the case is the most interesting aspect of Murder Mystery 2.
Also, there are moments where the writers try to force comedy and ruin a perfectly good scene. Some choices fall so short that the film feels like an SNL sketch. Fortunately, they don’t last very long.
Verdict
Murder Mystery 2 is a film oozing with typical Adam Sandler comedy DNA. Jennifer Aniston and the rest of the cast are at their best albeit the plot is nothing to rave about. However, it is worth a watch because you are sure to have a light and breezy time.
Murder Mystery 2
Director: Jeremy Garelick
Date Created: 2023-04-01 12:40
3
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