Maggie Moore(s)

By Joanna Langfield

If only this one had the courage of its convictions.

What hints at being quirky and actually kind of creatively interesting quickly loses its steam and dissolves into a sadly ordinary comedic whodunnit. That’s especially disappointing because not only does the film start off rather well, but also lets down its talented cast as well as those of us watching.

Jon Hamm and Tina Fey reunite to play two unmarried (guess what happens there) people, caught up for different reasons in a local murder. Jon’s the police chief, Tina’s the curious neighbor who just can’t help herself. What fun it would have been, had Tina’s Rita actually been as offbeat as she first appears. But no. Rita’s kind of normal. And so’s Hamm’s Chief Sanders. So while it may be nice in real life to see nice people figuring out how to get through life’s challenges, it’s kind of blah to watch that, however nicely acted, on screen. Even parts that could have been written to add some sideline spice don’t feel that way. Nick Mohammed of Ted Lasso fame doesn’t get to do much except feel set up. And the actor who might have added some thrill to the thriller, Happy Anderson, hardly gets enough screen time to make any impression at all.

It’s nice to see Hamm show up for his Mad Men co-star John Slattery’s directing debut. It’s significantly more fun to see them both in the criminally under appreciated Confess Fletch, a far more sly and entertaining comic caper.