Clue

Starring: Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Hull, Colleen Camp, Lesley Ann Warren, Lee Ving, Howard Hesseman
Directed by: Jonathan Lynn
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Mystery
1985

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Six guests are summoned to a mansion under mysterious circumstances and soon find themselves caught up in a murder investigation.

Review:

Tim: I wouldn't have expected to like a movie based on a board game, but Clue defies all expectations. This is a surprisingly great movie that manages to not only pay homage to the board game, but deliver an exciting, entertaining story that stands on its own. That's pretty rare and one of the chief reasons why I like this movie so much. This is just such a fun movie.

The Clue board game is fairly decent, as you need to discover who the murderer is, what weapon they used, and where the crime took place. It's straightforward and simple. The movie builds on this to weave an interesting crime story about a group of people assembled in a mansion who have to uncover which one of them is the murderer. Most board games would have a very difficult time being translated onto the screen, but this adaptation just made a lot of sense.

The cast is perhaps the biggest strength this movie has. Tim Curry brings his infectious energy to the role. I loved the scenes where he's running from room to room. Curry is a very underrated actor and he was absolutely necessary in this film. His character, the butler Wadsworth, isn't in the game, but he is the glue that holds the entire film together. For Clue to work, it needed one character as the linchpin to bind the rest of the cast together. I don't believe this movie succeeds without the very strong performance of Curry. He deserves a great deal of the credit for this movie's success. I've always liked Eileen Brennan and it was fun seeing her here. Christopher Lloyd makes a good Professor Plum and brought his talent to the role. Michael McKean gives a very strong performance- all of the actors had to walk a thin line, because their characters could be innocent, or they could be the killer. McKean embodies this balance perhaps better than anyone else in the cast. I have to admit, Colleen Camp made me laugh, mostly due to her absolutely absurd costume as the maid, Yvette. She's another non-game addition and added some humor to the film. Madeline Kahn, Martin Mull, and Lesley Ann Warren round out the main cast as Mrs. White, Colonel Mustard, and Miss Scarlet, respectably. I also want to mention Lee Ving, who played the humorously named Mr. Boddy. Ving is the front man for a band and not the greatest actor in the world. And yet, there's just something about him that sticks in your mind. Even in the decade plus after my first viewing of this film, I'd never forgotten his face. Ving has a smaller supporting role, but it's quite memorable.

While it's true this movie is based on a board game, it manages to be a very funny, murder mystery that stands on its own. You could have no clue (see what I did there) what the game is about and still enjoy this high-energy, tongue-in-cheek, delightful film. This movie did fairly poor business at the box office in 1985, but it's truly a hidden gem. The movie will keep you guessing- Who exactly is the killer? I had no idea while watching. I also loved how the ending was handled. It might not be a shocking, sit-up-in-your seat conclusion, but it was perfectly appropriate for the type of movie this was. I really, really enjoyed it.

Clue is a great movie. It defies expectations and delivers a truly enjoyable experience. It's incredibly well-written and wonderfully entertaining. I know that a lot of people haven't checked this movie out- that's a shame, because it is absolutely worth tracking down. For film buffs, I believe this was the first movie based on a board game. It's also an incredible film and I highly recommend it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



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