I Have No Clue what to Review Next

 Before starting, I do give credit to Garrett Mason for the idea of this film as I was wondering what to do for this week. While this movie is not really a classic, it has indeed drawn a cult following. It is the first movie based off of a board game, so in great whodunnit (actual word fyi) fashion, tonight's review is Clue. And Great Scott! It has Christopher Lloyd and Tim Curry in it! Although a film based off of a game wouldn't usually produce good remarks, these known actors breathe a slight sigh of relief that perhaps this movie will be worth the hour and a half.

The classic characters are gathered in a huge mansion on a dark and stormy night. It plays off with a mysterious vibe that can't be taken all that seriously, and the film realizes this all for the better. It has such an off-beat humor about it that you'll find yourself surprised that you just laughed in that scene. Yet the combination of such a clever script with laugh-out-loud physical humor keeps the mystery of the movie rolling.

All the characters are given vastly different personalities and backgrounds-- Mr. Green and Mrs. White are my favorite eccentricities of the bunch. This ties into the story well of wondering who is the murderer as the body count starts to rise. Not to mention, the similarities to the board game almost release a chuckle with the way they are put into the film: expect secret passageways and murders in multiple rooms with different weapons.

The music could be described as similar to Airplane!, and any comparison to that comedy has to be a plus (the trailer for the film even used the score from Airplane!). There's an upbeat catchy tune throughout with the additions of great songs like “Shake, Rattle, and Roll.”

All in all, there isn't much to get critical about over this film. It's the debut direction for Jonathan Lynn, and that's an impressive feat when you see the beautifully choreographed finale taking the characters through the ordeals of the night to discover what exactly happened. The film, at its core, is a comedy with a red herring-filled mystery. And when people watch it for what it is, that's when it rightfully gets a cult status. There's nothing eye-popping, and the technicalities aren't perfect-- probably due to a small budget; but there is plenty to cheer over and be entertained by (including a couple fun alternative endings). The film doesn't seek glamour, and the great thing about it is that it doesn't need it. It's like a hidden gem. You won't really miss it without knowing about it, but boy are you grateful to have seen it once its discovery is made. Now then, adding contrast to the somewhat dated nature of this lesser-known film, tomorrow features a recent movie (and book series that I did read) that caused a bunch of teenage angst awaiting its arrival on the big screen. And no, until I am forced against my will to see it, it is not Divergent. Or Insurgent. I will admit, it is possibly Allegiant or Ascendant. So keep those not-yet-released films an option.