Movie Review: “Murder Mystery”

By Matt Pascarella

Rated: PG-13

Running time: 1 hour, 37 mins.

This Netflix movie tells the story of a couple who get mixed up in a billionaire’s tangled family feud and have to prove their innocence.

Detective Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler) and his wife Audrey Spitz (Jennifer Aniston) live a somewhat mundane life. He is a former detective who recently failed his detective’s exam. She is a hairdresser and, with their fifteenth wedding anniversary coming up, wants to go on a trip to Europe that Nick promised her after they first got married.

A trip to Europe is not what Nick has in mind as he’s seen picking out an Amazon gift card as a present for her. However, when Audrey expresses that she’d really like to take that trip, Nick claims a trip to Europe is a surprise and they are quickly on a plane.

Audrey wanders up to the first-class section of the plane where she meets billionaire, Lord Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans) and he invites her and Nick to join them on their yacht in Monaco where his uncle is to wed Cavendish’s ex fiancé. Audrey and Nick agree.

Upon boarding the yacht, they meet a colorful cast of characters. All have gathered on board for Malcom Quince’s (Terence Stamp) nuptials, but also for the reading of his will, in which someone could inherit billions of dollars. Quince announces his entire fortune will go to his bride, Suzi Nakamura. Everyone, except the Spitzs’ are upset about this.

Suddenly, the lights go out and a gunshot is heard. When the lights come back on, a dagger has been plunged into Quince’s chest and he is dead.

The crime scene is closed off.

While Nick and Audrey discuss the case later that night, another gunshot is heard and Quince’s son, Tobey (David Walliams) is found dead. Each of the remaining individuals are questioned by an inspector. Nick and Audrey are pegged as the persons of interest as they stand out the most compared to the other guests. The Spitzs’ are kicked off the yacht and forced to stay in a hotel room.

Nick and Audrey discuss the three motives for murder: love, money and revenge and try to figure out who the killer might be. They question the suspects the following day at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Later, a note is slipped under their door telling them to come to room 802. There, the Colonel’s bodyguard reveals information pertaining to the case.

There is a knock at the door and the bodyguard is shot. Nick and Audrey manage to escape from room 802, but soon realize their faces are all over the news and that everyone thinks they are the killers.

Are they? Or do they need to prove their innocence? If so, who is the killer?

Murder Mystery is a solid murder mystery. It has action, comedy – multiple funny lines and scenarios – and Aniston and Sandler are a good duo. The ending is satisfying with a few surprises and is even a little sweet. I would recommend this movie, two thumbs up.