In the cinema, the detective stories built around a couple of amateur detectives are part of a long tradition with often literary origins. We think for example of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, at Agatha Christie, or even Nick and Nora Charles, at Dashiell Hammett. Nick and Audrey Spitz are, for their part, pure cinematographic creations, well if you will, since Netflix confined their first adventure, Murder Mystery (Murder and Mystery), as well as the second, Murder Mystery 2 (Murder Mystery 2), to its platform without detour through the rooms. It is true that the strategy succeeded for the giant since the original film remains one of its biggest successes.
In the first film, Nick (Adam Sandler) and Audrey (Jennifer Aniston), he a clumsy cop, she a hairdresser who loves crime novels, find themselves invited, by one of those coincidences that only happen in the views, on a luxurious yacht. However, after the master of the house found himself with a dagger in the back, the spouses took it upon themselves to solve the case, not without being suspected by Interpol.
Shot in various European countries, this exotic police comedy contained its share of funny scenes and comical exchanges between Sandler and Aniston, the latter very accomplices (and great friends in the city, this partly explaining that). It was light, forgettable, but, quite honestly, rather pleasant (in main suspects, Luke Evans and especially Gemma Arterton conferred a supplement of amused elegance on the film).
Unfortunately, if it obviously tends to the same three characteristics, this second investigation by Nick and Audrey struggles this time to fulfill this simple mandate. This time, Nick and Audrey find themselves embroiled in a story of kidnapping, and of course murder, while their new detective agency is on the brink.
Sandler and Aniston share the same complicity on the screen, and their pleasure to give the reply in the roles of these spouses “who bicker but who love each other” is obvious: nothing to complain about. As for the rest of the cast, Jodie Turner-Smith, as a stuck-up countess, and Dany Boon, who resumes her character as a not super smart Interpol investigator, stand out.
As for Jeremy Garelick’s direction, it’s no better or worse than Kyle Newacheck’s in the earlier film. It’s functional, utilitarian. We are closer to a television approach than a cinematographic one, but it’s fair game since it’s designed to be seen at home.
Lazy scenario
Where it gets stuck, where it disappoints, is with respect to the story imagined by James Vanderbilt, yet capable of brilliant things: we owe him the screenplay of Zodiac, by David Fincher. Screenwriter of the first Murder Mystery, Vanderbilt seems to have written this second opus on a corner of the table. The result, which recycles several elements used previously, like forcing the Spitz to prove their innocence, is lazy and smiley at best.
However, whatever one thinks, with headliners like Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, whose popularity is unfailing, the risk of failure is virtually nil. Now, precisely, this notion of risk, or more precisely this refusal to take the slightest, is what limits the impact of these Murder Mysteryespecially the one in this sequel.
We are miles away from the verve, the subtext and the visual panache of Knives Out And Glass Onion, by Rian Johnson, now owned by Netflix as well. Of the two “sagas”, Murder Mystery looks like a poor child. An idea, like this: perhaps for the inevitable third part of the adventures of the Spitz, James Vanderbilt could he strive to offer the friendly couple a plot worthy of these novels that Audrey loves so much?