Alan Hasn't Got a 'Clue' in this Cult Classic Whodunit

Starring

• Tim Curry

• Eileen Brennan

• Lesley Ann Warren

• Michael McKean

• Christopher Lloyd

• Madeline Kahn

• Martin Mull

Original Theatrical Release Date: 12/13/1985

Running Time: 94 mins

Synopsis: Six guests are invited to a strange house and must cooperate with the staff to solve a murder mystery.  --From IMDb

Review: I really don't know which direction to take this review. It's highly likely that it will encourage people to see it as well as deter others. And I say that not because 'Clue' is a bad movie, but because it is a dumb movie. But it's almost so dumb that it's brilliant. 

Let's start off with the plot. Six people are invited to a dinner party at the Hill House mansion. All of the guests are invited via a letter that instructed them to use an alias at the dinner party. The six find out that the one thing they have in common is that they are being blackmailed by Mr. Boddy (Lee Ving), the seventh guest to arrive:

1. Professor Plum (Christopher Lloyd) is being blackmailed for his affair with a female patient which cost him his license to practice.
2. Mrs. Peacock (Eileen Brennan) has been accepting bribes to help her Senator husband's votes.
3. Mrs. White (Madeline Kahn) has been paying Mr. Boddy to keep speculation of her husband's mysterious murder out of the public eye. 
4. Miss Scarlet (Lesley Ann Warren) runs a whorehouse in DC.
5. Colonel Mustard (Martin Mull) has some scandalous photos hanging over his head.
6. Mr. Green (Micheal McKean) is a closet homosexual, and that information leaking would cause him to lose his job with the State Department. 

Wadsworth (Tim Curry), the butler of Mr. Boddy, has gathered all the guests  in an effort to confront Mr. Boddy so he can be turned in to the police. Wadsworth's reasoning? Mr. Boddy had been blackmailing his wife which resulted in her taking her life. 

Mr. Boddy does not seem to care too much for this plan and hands all of the guests a box, gift wrapped, with a weapon inside. He says in order to keep their secrets, Wadsworth is the one that needs to die. He precedes to cut off the lights so no one will know who commits the act, and as the sound of a thud is heard, and the lights are cut back on, it is Mr. Boddy who lies dead on the floor. 

That's when the guests decide to search the mansion to try to find the killer. As they do, more bodies are discovered, and the group grows more wary of the company they are in, as they all know, that one of them did it!

Let's start first with what is wrong with this picture. The actual plot, especially as it progresses, is quite weak. But in all fairness, what are you expecting from a movie based on a board game? There are several continuity errors throughout the film, that even contradict many of the outcomes in the ending of the film. (There are three endings actually, and only one of them somewhat plausible if you were really paying attention to the movie.) So far. doesn't sound so great. 

Here's where the movie wins. The cast could not be more perfect for such a movie. And the script is so darkly humorous that you almost get to a point where you feel like you're watching only to see what someone says or does next. The acting was zany, as I think it was intended to, and it worked so well for this movie. The performances from Madeline Kahn and Tim Curry alone made this worth a viewing, as they were pitch perfect. 

Would i recommend 'Clue' to a friend? Absolutely. I feel like I may have to warn them of the absurdity of it upfront, because if you've seen the film. You'll understand. Some people just won't get the point. And truth be told, there isn't much of one, nor does there need to be one. It's just a fun movie, plain and simple. Now, someone starts talking a 'Monopoly' movie? I'm out. 

Score: