An Uneven Film Saved By Its Actors

Jon Hamm, Tina Fey, and Nate from Ted Lasso (Nick Mohammed) do their best to make Maggie Moore(s) a stand-out comedy. At times, the inventive story and its stars succeed. Other times, it feels as if this uneven yet still engaging romp would have worked better if it had been a limited series in à la Fargo. The premise is priceless.

Two women with the same name are murdered just days apart. Enter small-town police chief Jordan Sanders (Hamm), who sifts through an array of suspects — cheating husbands, lonely hearts, very nosy neighbors, and nutty contract killers. The man has enough going on in his shaky personal life. Does he need this stress?

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Maggie Moore(s), which recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, is directed by Mad Men alum John Slattery, who reportedly wanted to take Paul Bernbaum’s script, and tell a story extremely honed in on tone, character, feeling, and intention. Everybody in Maggie Moore(s) has some kind of vulnerability to move through. These characters are searching for emotional connection and fulfillment in the midst of a wacky story about a double murder. The only thing missing is Frances McDormand and… a bit more editing to make this film fly higher. But what we get is still engaging.

A Story Based on Real-Life Events

“Some of this actually happened,” the opening line reads. Indeed. Back in fall of 2000, there was Mary Morris, a murdered Texas woman. A few days later, another Texan named Mary Morris was killed. Could these events have been the deliberate work of a hitman? Maybe the first death was a mishap by a shoddy killer. Maybe the second Mary was the intended victim. Or maybe it was the other way around. Screenwriter Paul Bernbaum gives audiences plenty to nosh on in the narrative department, and director John Slattery makes the best use of his stars — for the most part.

Related: Jon Hamm’s Best Performances, Ranked

The film opens with one Maggie Moore murder then quickly zips back in time to trace the events that got Hamm’s Jordan Sanders and his sharp if not annoying sidekick, Deputy Reddy — Nick Mohammed in fine form — standing above a corpse. The genesis of the calamity is rooted in the buffoonery of Jay Moore (Micah Stock of Brittany Runs a Marathon and Bonding). Jay is, well, daft. And desperate. He’s operating an ill-conceived scam out of a sandwich shop, opting to forgo using mandatory corporate supplies in lieu of getting expired products on the cheap. He’s thinking about extra profits. But he’s really not thinking at all. His wife Maggie threatens to kill his scheme, so Jay finds a gruff fella named Kosco (Happy Anderson) to frighten the hell out of Maggie. Let’s just say Kosco is ambitious. He sets Maggie’s car on fire. She’s in it, of course. Things begin to topple from there.

A Tale of Two Dead Maggies

Screen Media

Here’s where things go all Fargo in Maggie Moore(s). Worried that the police will figure out he played a hand in the first Maggie’s death, Jay hires Kosco again. Seems there is another Maggie Moore (Mary Holland) in the area and, well, if that Maggie were to die, maybe the entire thing would look like an intentional serial killing.

What follows are moments of humor, but it never rises to the hilarity you truly hope this comedy to reach. Tossed into the mix and perhaps underused is Tina Fey (30 Rock) as Rita Grace, a divorcee who warms up to Jordan. It helps that she’s nosy and has overheard Jay and Maggie No. 1 fighting. Hamm and Fey play well off of each other. We like these actors and audiences tend to feel at home watching them. Still, they don’t always soar above the material they’re given.

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The standouts here are Nick Mohammed, who proves there’s life for him beyond Ted Lasso. What a refreshing surprise to see the range this actor holds. On that note, if you feel inclined, check out anything you can find on Mohammed’s touring show, The Very Best and Worst Of Mr. Swallow. Look for him next in The Ballad Of Renegade Nell, a new Disney+ adventure series directed by Ben Taylor (Sex Education, Catastrophe). In the meantime, Micah Stock is a hoot throughout. His interactions with yet another thug— a deaf and tough dude — are hilarious.

Bottom line: Maggie Moore(s) works because of the great cast fueling it. In addition to Hamm, Fey, Mohammed, and Stock, the comedy features fine turns by Tate Ellington, Allison Dunbar, Peter Diseth, and Bobbi Kitten. Slattery’s direction is mostly effective, but ultimately, there is a disconnect between the script and what we see on screen. If you recall how you felt during the last few creative breaths of Kevin Can F**k Himself, you may find yourself similarly frustrated here. But give this cast credit for not killing this interesting premise.

Maggie Moore(s), from Screen Media, is available In theaters and on demand June 16.

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