Clue (1985)

Clue (1985)

I have seen 1985’s Clue several times now. Prior to watching it, my friends boasted how it is one of the greatest comedies and mystery films ever made? My initial reaction when the credits rolled was, “Uhhhhhhh…..seriously!?!” I have a blasted headache no thanks to the film. But on subsequent rewatching, while still holding true to my initial thought, I did think the film is a fun if not forgettable 80’s flick. Jonathan Lynn’s script is super-thin and barely holds together, but the excellent cast is the glue that holds the film together. Tim Curry absolutely knocks it out of the park, and I would not hesitate to say this is his finest role despite being in better movies.

I remember playing the hit Hasbro board game as a kid. Yay for family nights! It is nuts to think that a feature film, a watchable film that is, was made from the board game. Paramount somehow succeeded! The script eventually came together from producer John Landis when he got the likes of Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim to work on the script, but it was ultimately finished by Jonathan Lynn. Yeah, the script could have used much more work. The film received attention because of its three endings. In 1985, Paramount released the film in theaters with a third of each theater population playing the different endings. People definitely saw this as a gimmick due to the mixed reviews upon initial release. The ending definitely can be confusing to follow as the whole bag of tricks becomes unveiled.

The film’s plot is your standard, typical whodunit story. There are seven guests, a butler, and a maid being involved with a series of murders. All of the guests meet up at the Hill House, where they find themselves being blackmailed. Most of these characters, in some shape of form, have relations with one another. There is Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd) who works as a psychiatrist in Washington D.C. Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull) works for Miss Scarlett (Lesley Anne Warren) who used to be the employer of the maid, Yvette (Colleen Camp) who slept with Mrs. White’s (Madeleine Kahn) husband. The lights go off and murder weapons are handed out. In addition, we have the crazy Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan) and the incredibly clumsy Mr. Green (Michael McKean). All of these characters also interact with the butler, Wadsworth (Tim Curry). Who are the murderers and who are the victims?

The story is simple and mundane with no thanks to the bare-thin script. Thankfully, the cast comes to the rescue. Each character finds their moment to shine. In Tim Curry’s case, he was the bright light for the entire movie. He really hammed it up and I was there for every second. Christopher Lloyd, in all his fast-talking brilliantness, looked unrecognizable but did have some memorable scenes. Madeleine Kahn is excellent herself. The film puts its cast to good use using many of the comedy stars from back in the day. Michael McKean, also excellent!

I get what Jonathan Lynn and John Landis intended the movie to be. It didn’t quite hit the sweet spot as the ultimate mystery spoof. If anything, I would prefer an Agatha Christie tale like Murder on the Orient Express. I do think it was a neat idea to bring comedy into the proceedings. Like most comedies, some jokes worked, and others did not. It is the thought that counts! Ultimately, Clue is a fun movie even for all the gimmicks and script issues it has. It’s a good excuse to pop in on a Halloween night or something, but do not expect anything with Agatha Christie’s quality.

My Grade: B