The Case of the Missing Mystery Team Appeal
Today the 2-Minute Verdict turns its judgmental eye towards Mystery Team, the Sundance Film Festival "comedy sensation" about a Bloodhound Gang-type trio of neighborhood crime-solvers who refuse to grow up. Cinematical described it as "Encyclopedia Brown meets Napoleon Dynamite with a pinch of Ace Ventura." CinemaBlend called it "the Rocky Horror Picture Show of mystery movies." And Slashfilm called it "funnier and more original than 99% of the comedies Hollywood releases now-a-days." Now that we've seen the trailer, we can finally throw in our two cents: "Really terrible-looking!"
For starters, this looks like the cheapest movie ever made, shot, costumed, set-dressed etc. I realize there's a lot of shoddy-looking movies out there, but ones that aspire to a theatrical release that don't rely on the whole shaky/handheld/mumblecore aesthetic just kind of end up being ... distracting? In their shoddy appearance? This looks less like a feature film, more like a mid-budget webisode of something on FunnyOrDie.
Except that it's also not particularly funny? For starters, is there some reason these guys are still acting like doofuses in their 20s, beyond the fact that that is a premise for comedy? And do you really want to come out of the gate with the magnifying glass bit? Then those kind of hammy introductions follow. Then the set-up comes -- they have to solve an actual double-murder; OK, that's good -- then a series of shots follow that aren't particularly funny nor do they convey any essential information. And who voted the "Master of Disguise" Jason as the lead Mystery Teamer? He's the least funny of the three. Stop mugging, Master of Disguise!
It's the Rocky Horror Picture Show of mystery movies, everybody!
Verdict: No.
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Comments
Wow, you completely decided this movie was crap from a poorly cut trailer when tons of critics have praised it after it screened at Sundance. I wonder if those critics judged the whole movie or just the trailer? Because if they saw the whole movie at Sundance, I would think their opinion is more valid.
Yeah, that's the point of Two-Minute Verdict. We're judging the movie as it's being sold to us in the trailer.
Well, its a dambass concpt
Good to knaw!
Actually, the two minute verdict is a fairly accurate accounting of the movie (which I froze my vag off to see at Sundance). Definitely over-hyped. It relies heavily on the "we know this is lame and that's what makes it HIlarious" comedic theory.
On a positive note, Charlie is pretty hot.
I'm waiting for the Red-band trailer before making my final verdict of how crappy it is.
The trailer isn't that well constructed, and makes it look like an extended SNL skit, and not a good skit.
Now that might have nothing to do with the movie, but that means that they need a way better trailer.
Doesn't one of these guys write for 30 Rock? That Brorape video they have on youtube was pretty funny.
stop hurting feelings, two minute verdict!
Ms. Cramston's 11th grade class at Marrington Falls High worked very hard on making this pretend movie.