Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan lead a whodunit comedy caper so dry you’ll need a sip of water afterwards. Set in early 1950s London, See How They Run follows a mismatched pair as they investigate the murder of an obnoxious American film director (Adrien Brody). British humor takes center stage with a non-stop flow of droll one-liners, clever double entendres, and goofy sight gags. It’s a mostly successful exercise as a witty script and talented ensemble cast parody the works of famed mystery author Agatha Christie.
See How They Run opens at the hundredth performance of a smash West End play. The adaptation of an Agatha Christie novel is contractually bound for the big screen after a profitable run. The cast, producer, and writer celebrate their move to the big screen at a lavish party. The festivities take an ugly turn when a drunken Leo Köpernick (Brody), the Hollywood director shooting the film version, gets in a fight with the arrogant star, Richard Attenborough (Harris Dickinson). Leo wobbles away only to be found murdered later. The killer posing him onstage for everyone to see.
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Police Commissioner Scott (Tim Key) brings in veteran Inspector Stoppard (Rockwell) to solve the high-profile crime. He also assigns the eager and inexperienced Constable Stalker (Ronan) as Stoppard’s deputy. Stalker yaps constantly while taking copious notes. She’s studying for her sergeant’s exam and is thrilled by the opportunity. Unfortunately for the weary and disheveled Stoppard, Stalker can’t help but jump to quick conclusions at every instant.
Stoppard and Stalker learn that Leo Köpernick was loathed by everyone involved in the play. Writer Mervyn Cocker-Norris (David Oyelowo) despised Leo for changing his script. Producers Petula Spencer (Ruth Wilson) and John Woolf (Reece Shearsmith) were somehow under Leo’s thumb. Attenborough challenged Leo after an indecent proposal to his wife and co-star, Sheila Sim (Pearl Chanda). There were plenty of motives for murder. The detectives try to get along until a surprising clue points to an unexpected suspect.
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A Sophisticated Film Meant for Discerning Tastes
See How They Run is a sophisticated film meant for discerning tastes. Mark Chappell, an English sitcom writer known for Cold Feet and Flaked, pens a wordy script packed with sharp details. He gives the players meaty dialogue while satirizing the abundant clichés in Agatha Christie’s books. Leo narrates the story despite being whacked within minutes of the first act. He returns at various points in flashbacks and fantasy sequences. Stoppard and Stalker also break the fourth wall to communicate directly with the audience. The events of the play mirror the murder investigation. This is all done with a wink and sly delivery.
Ronan steals the show with her incessant babbling. Stalker’s nervous energy and impetuous inclinations adds consistent humor through a short runtime. Rockwell spends most of the film on the verge of annoyance and exasperation. His character could have used more personality to balance the primary relationship. Oyelowo also stands out with the most flamboyant performance. He has great range and shows off his comedy chops.
See How They Run should be appreciated by Agatha Christie fans. I don’t think there’s ever been such a humorous take on her work. The big reveal isn’t a simple exercise. The final act requires strict attention to all the breadcrumbs. The level of detail and exceedingly dry dialogue will be lost on casual viewers.
See How They Run is a production of Searchlight Pictures and DJ Films. It will have a theatrical release on September 16th from Searchlight Pictures.
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