September Monthly Review: Clue: The Movie (1985) (Patreon)

It was Clue: the Movie, in the cinema, with one of three endings! 

I feel like it's only responsible to say at the top of this review, Clue: the Movie is one of my favorite films. This 80s Cult Classic has everything a former theater kid could want: iconic costumes, memorable dialogue, and Tim Curry! 

How did a board game adaptation succeed despite Hollywood's constant failure with games featuring more robust storylines? Focusing on the spirit, not the text. Clue: the Movie is a comedic murder mystery, set up as the game it's based off of would, with the murder of Mr. Boddy, quickly the investigation spirals into a series of misadventures taking inspiration from the likes of Poirot. The feeling playing Clue intends to impart, the movie succeeds on delivering. 

Often, playing to tropes can be seen as uncreative, but in the case of a bottle comedy like Clue: the Movie leaning on the familiar allows them to take full advantage of the audience's awareness of the genre to subvert it for great comedic effect. Nowhere does this shine through more than in the ending of the film, or should I say, the three endings of the film? In it's original theatrical run, Clue: the Movie audiences were treated to one of three possible endings, randomly. It was entirely possible to see a different unraveling of the mystery than your friend at a different showing! (On the DVD release, you can select which ending you'd like, or play all three in succession). 

While gimmicky, this ending swap is emblematic of how carefully constructed this film is. All three endings make perfect sense, while hitting similar comedic beats, and playing to the structure imposed in adapting a board game into a movie. Much of this can be attributed to the razor sharp writing. Setups and punchlines fly by at lightning speed, but linger just long enough to live in your head forever, enhanced by the performances of the all-star cast.

Lead by Time Curry aka Wadsworth, the cast of Clue character cards features no weak ends, but there are a few standout performances. Of course Curry delivers his usual cunning comedic contrarian, but he is joined by Madeline Kahn's Mrs. White (and the flames, flames on the side of her face) giving dry rage, Lesley Ann Warren's femme fatal Miss Scarlet, and Eileen Brennan's eccentric Mrs. Peacock. 

Helping complete the effect, the production design captures the style of the board game, as well as pulling from classic murder mysteries like "Murder on the Orient Express". The colors and fabrics dressing actor and set are muted, but over the top, and quickly alert the viewer to who and where they're looking at, reducing the amount of information they need to keep straight and letting them simply enjoy the ride.

Clue: the Movie is quirky, fun, and frankly better watched than read about. No text could communicate the snappy dialogue, or the expression made by Madeline Kahn when accused of murder! And if you're looking for a group Halloween costume this year, maybe consider following the Clue. 

8/10 Candlesticks in the Library