I usually enjoy comic murder mystery films. The combination of suspense and laughter can be highly entertaining. The Thin Man movies come to mind. Murder Mystery, co-starring Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, attempts to mix elements of those old films with And Then There Were None, Agatha Christie's famous mystery novel.

Only this time, the classy Nick and Nora Charles are a New York cop and his hairdresser wife, who loves mystery books.  This working class couple become caught up in a series of murders while being unwelcome guests on a billionaire's yacht. What a way to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary!

Although I wanted all this to work, the movie left me disappointed. Aniston and Sandler are no strangers to comedy, so they try their best. But most of their comic banter falls flat.                          

Agatha Christie is not here.

This “Murder Mystery” hard to cheer.

Aniston and Sandler team up.

Both naïve as a clumsy pup.

Their long-awaited vacation

doesn’t turn out to be much fun.

Someone is killed and they are blamed.

Tempers build & become enflamed.

They try to solve murders that come.

If only they were not so dumb.

But comedy is their best suit.

We sometimes laugh at their pursuit.

Nick and Nora Charles -- they are not.

Although they’re better than this plot.

So many people to suspect.

Logic gets lost as they detect.

On the bright side, production values are first-rate. I loved the costumes, sets and lush European locations. This film is definitely easy on the eye.

I also enjoyed watching Luke Evans as the charming British viscount who invites Aniston and Sandler to his uncle’s yacht event. His first scene with Aniston is one of the movie's best. The chemistry between these two actors should be capitalized on by filmmakers as soon as possible.

And it’s always a treat to see veteran actor Terence Stamp on screen. He makes me sit up and take notice. Stamp is perfectly cast here as a wealthy elderly man who calls people together to witness the signing of his will. But I wish he had more camera time before becoming the first murder victim.

So who done it?  There are plenty of suspects here, including a gorgeous movie star (Gemma Arterton) and a Formula 1 driver (Luis Gerardo Mendez). Could the quote below be an important clue?    

SPOILER ALERT

Many homicidal lunatics are very quiet unassuming people. Delightful fellows. --- Agatha Christie

(Released by Netflix and rated“PG-13” for violence/bloody images, crude sexual content and language.)

Director: Kyle Newacheck

Writer: James Vanderbilt