Today’s quick review: The Thin Man Goes Home. Nick Charles (William Powell) takes his wife Nora (Myrna Loy) to go visit his parents (Lucile Watson and Harry Davenport) in his old hometown. But his reputation as a detective sends the small town’s criminals into a panic, culminating in a murder on his parents’ doorstep. The victim is a local artist who was in some kind of trouble, but it will talk all of Nick’s skills to find out what.
The Thin Man Goes Home is a crime comedy and the fifth movie in the Thin Man series. The Thin Man Goes Home puts a small-town twist on the usual formula. Rather than solving a crime in New York or Los Angeles, Nick has to ply his trade as a detective among the places and faces of his youth. The Thin Man Goes Home hits many of the same beats as the other Thin Man movies, but its execution is not as polished, leaving it a fun but unexceptional watch.
The film’s flaws are subtle and subjective. The mystery has several good twists along the way, but the wrap-up depends heavily on clues that have been kept hidden from the viewer. On the comedy side, The Thin Man Goes Home gives Nora more to do, but the dialogue and situations are not quite as punchy as the best films in the series. Nick’s parents also don’t make as much of an impact as they could have.
Check out The Thin Man Goes Home if you’re a fan of the series and in the mood for something light. Depending on your taste in mystery and comedy, The Thin Man Goes Home can be a step down from the series’ peak, but it still makes for a charming watch. Those who like the classics would do well to give it a shot, if only to catch William Powell and Myrna Loy in action. Skip it if older comedies don’t appeal to you.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for good comedy and a decent mystery, but lacking the expertise of its predecessors.