If not for ego, Adrian Brody and Steve Carrell would have had a Nose-Off Contest by now. I'm just sorry Steve didn't have a part in "See How They Run," the latest derivative comedy sprung from the mind of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap.
If you're one of the six people on the planet who have not seen The Mousetrap, I will not reveal the plot twist to this iconic Whodunit.
In a move that is a signature of the absolute stupidity of our elected and appointed officials, The Mousetrap, which had run continuously in London's West End from 1952 to 2020, was SHUT DOWN DUE TO COVID.
While I think closing schools, shuttering businesses and convincing room temperature IQ types that a dishrag would prevent viral transmission were the dumbest of all the dumb moves, closing a theatre which had survived as long as Elizabeth II's reign was almost as egregious. The world had been through the Cold War, for God's sake.
"See How They Run" has a plot which mirrors The Mousetrap, the 1952 initial run of which allows the director to engineer a story arc. The through-line is the attempt by Adrian Brody as film director Leo Kopernick (A blacklisted Hollywood type) to mount a film version.
During a party celebrating the 100th performance of The Mousetrap, the “most unlikable character” is murdered.
Gosh. Whodunit?
There are several wonderful performances in the film. Saorise Ronan as the young constable, keeping her senior partner, Sam Rockwell, out of the pubs. Ruth Wilson, far less skanky as Choo than in anything else she’s done. Shirley Henderson who has a WAY TOO SMALL part as Agatha Christie. And Pippa Bennett-Warner, who might be the funniest and most beautiful POC I’ve ever seen. Her pratfalls would make Charlie Chaplin jealous.
As in the play, I can’t give anything away. Adrian Brody is the dominant character. He also serves as the narrator, and without him “See How They Run” would be downright mediocre.
However, that is not the case, and “See How They Run” is worth the time.
But, good golly, Whodunit?
HBOMAX and HULU