Today’s quick review: Murder Mystery. Nick Spitz (Adam Sandler), a New York police officer, and his wife Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) are on their way to Europe for a vacation when Charles Cavendish (Luke Evans), the nephew of billionaire Malcolm Quince (Terence Stamp), invites the couple to stay on his uncle’s yacht. But the trip takes an unexpected turn when Malcolm is murdered, leaving Nick and Audrey as the prime suspects.
Murder Mystery is a comedy mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. The movie drops a pair of American tourists in the middle of a murder investigation involving a dead billionaire, a disputed will, and an extended family with plenty of motive. Murder Mystery is an affectionate send-up of the mystery genre that turns its conventions on their head. Light humor and well-matched leads make the movie a fun watch.
Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are the bedrock of Murder Mystery. They capture the dynamic of a married couple with skill, and their arguing, teamwork, and affection for one another give the movie the energy it runs on. The pot is a winding parody of a classic murder mystery. Audrey and Nick use their knowledge of the genre to try to guess which outlandish suspect is the killer so they can clear their names and go home.
Murder Mystery accomplishes most of its goals, but it makes a few choices that will diminish the enjoyment of some viewers. The movie relies heavily on the dynamic between Nick and Audrey to drive its humor, so anyone who dislikes the way they argue, support each other, and quip their way through the investigation will have a rough time. Furthermore, the mystery itself is loosely constructed and short on clues.
Give Murder Mystery a shot when you are in the mood for something light, irreverent, and couple-centered. Murder Mystery is not as sharply written as some comedies, and its deliberately flimsy plot undermines its value as a mystery. But the combination of likable leads and whodunit parody make it an entertaining watch regardless, and anyone in a generous mood should give it a shot.
For a more sharply written comedy mystery, check out Knives Out. For a more ridiculous parody of the whodunit genre, try Murder by Death or Clue. For another adventure about an American caught up in intrigue on a European vacation, try The Tourist.
[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1618434/). I give it a 6.5 for irreverent comedy.