Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    The Lamplight Review
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Reviews
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • About Us
    • Live Music
    The Lamplight Review
    You are at:Home»Movie Reviews»Second Opinion: ‘See How They Run’
    Movie Reviews

    Second Opinion: ‘See How They Run’

    By Kyle WilsonSeptember 14, 2022Updated:September 14, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Email

    In See How They Run, Agatha Christie’s famed stalwart theater production The Mousetrap has hit its 100th performance in the West End of 1950s London. As the cast celebrates, an American director (Adrien Brody) hired to make a film version is murdered during the after party, resulting in life imitating art as a whodunit ensnares the production in this meta dissection that’s as highly enjoyable as it is forgettable.

    Enter Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell), a world-weary war vet saddled with plucky rookie Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) to unravel the sordid affair. Much of See How They Run revolves around the likability of its cast and the lead duo is largely to credit for the film’s successes. Rockwell in particular turns in a subdued but highly entertaining performance that’s good enough to forgive his softball attempt at a British accent. Ronan is straightforward yet lovably endearing as a copy/paste character from a Wes Anderson film.

    In fact, much of director Tom George’s film is equal parts love letter to the works of Agatha Christie and homage to the filmography of Wes Anderson; the pastel color palette, period setting, and whimsy of the characters would feel right at home with Anderson’s work. The biggest difference in George’s film is the content and See How They Run isn’t going for deep allegory or meaning, it’s just a meta, warm-and-fuzzy dissection of the genre. A Scream, if you will, for the period, non-slasher murder whodunits.

    Part of See How They Run’s charm is also the reason it’s highly forgettable. Despite calling out the genre that it’s parodying, it uses the same devices and then asks for forgiveness with a wink and nod as it employs all the same tricks. The murderer reveal is also a big letdown with little impact on any of the characters or events previously on display in the film. It’s a big “Huh?” moment during the last act that sours the buildup. The viewer is expected to shrug and get back to the fun, which is easy to do, but the impact of the experience melts away after the credits roll like warm cotton candy.

    The ensemble cast of characters alone is worth giving this a watch though and the film breezes by at a smooth hour and a half. While it all mostly results in empty calories, audiences would be hard-pressed to find a more lovely, all audiences crowd pleaser than See How They Run in theaters this weekend.

    Score: 3 out of 5

    adrien brody kyle wilson reviews sam rockwell saoirse ronan See How They Run Tom George
    Share. Facebook Twitter Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleMovie Review: ‘Clerks III’
    Next Article Interview: ‘Solar Opposites’ EPs on Hulu’s Halloween Special, Season 4

    Related Posts

    Movie Review: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

    March 28, 2023

    TV Review: ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5

    November 11, 2022

    TV Review: ‘Mythic Quest’ Season 3

    November 9, 2022

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Follow Us
    • Facebook 2.2K
    • Twitter 1.2K
    • Instagram 139
    • YouTube
    Sponsors
    Latest Posts

    Movie Review: ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’

    March 28, 2023

    Movie Review: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’

    March 13, 2023

    Movie Review: ‘Scream VI’

    March 8, 2023

    Movie Review: ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’

    February 14, 2023

    Bart’s Sundance 2023 Review Journal (Part 4)

    February 2, 2023
    Sponsors
    Copyright © 2023 The Lamplight Review.
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.