Clue (1985) Dir: Jonathon Lynn
- Ridley Coote
- Mar 13
- 2 min read
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Jonathon Lynn's dark comedy, based on the popular boardgame, is considered to be somewhat of a cult classic. I must say I really hadn't thought a whole lot about it until I saw that it starred Tim Curry, which was enough to sell me. Add to this that I also enjoy a good murder mystery, and this looked set to be an enjoyable time.
The film was full of silly visual gags, quick-witted wordplay, and ridiculous hijinks, that make for an extremely funny and chaotic comedy. I wasn't expecting it to get as over-the-top as it did, though I certainly didn't mind it. I found it all quite amusing, for the most part.
The story was ludicrously silly and a bit of a mess, but I enjoyed it a fair bit regardless. Some of it was definitely a little much, and lots of it relied on the comedy to carry it through, but it was most definitely a watchable comedy. I liked the various, and ridiculous, twists and turns, and the ending, or endings, were very amusingly done.
Tim Curry was the clear standout of the ensemble cast, unsurprisingly. His facial expressions are always devilishly good, and his quick-wit always follows suit. I also found his theatrical and charismatic delivery to be perfect for such a dramatic role. It was hard not to laugh at his every line of dialogue.
Of the other cast members, I'd say I most enjoyed Lesley Ann Warren and Christopher Lloyd, who I found to be particularly funny. Both had some excellent facial expressions too. I also enjoyed the likes of Madeline Kahn, Michael McKeen, and Colleen Camp, though to a lesser degree, while Eileen Brennan and Martin Mull were admittedly my least favourite performers, though they weren't terrible.
Overall, this film was never going to try and be anything but a fun time, and that's exactly what it was. It's simple, silly, and, at points, hilarious. It's not a film that I can imagine watching a lot, but I don't think I'd mind if it came on TV one night, or if a friend suggested it. Either way, it's a pretty entertaining film, and I can see why it has become a cult classic.
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