Review: 'Murder Mystery 2' Lacks A Good Mystery

The mystery isn’t even a murder…

(L-R) Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in Murder Mystery 2. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2023.

Four years after the franchise's first outing, Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are back with the second entry in their Murder Mystery franchise, Murder Mystery 2. Netflix, who is distributing the film, is challenged to debut a mystery that can rival their most recent murderous adventure, Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Both films (Murder Mystery 2 and Glass Onion) are forced to be the follow-ups to previous films, but the distinction between the two lies at their center, in their murder mysteries. Murder Mystery 2 makes the decision to revisit supporting characters from the first film and picks up with Nick (Sandler) and Audrey (Aniston) Spitz after the events of the first film, now attempting to run a (not-so-successful) private eye business while looking for work and facing the reality that they might not be cut out to be detectives. Nothing seems to be going their way until they get a last-minute phone call invite to the Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar)’s wedding on his brand-new private island. While all seems to be going well as Nick and Audrey are treated to an all-expenses paid getaway featuring an incredibly lavish wedding, things take a turn during the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding when the Maharajah ends up kidnapped.

(L-R) Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz, Melanie Laurent as Claudette Joubert and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in Murder Mystery 2. Cr. Scott Yamano/Netflix © 2023.

One of the smartest decisions that Murder Mystery 2 makes comes early on is the fact that it wastes no time jumping into the film’s overall narrative. We don’t spend the entire first act setting up dynamics and characters but jump straight into a story that, on its own, is enjoyable enough to get us where we need to be in the story. Unfortunately, it’s at the point that we’re drawn into the film’s grand plan that the story becomes predictable and unoriginal. As opposed to the first film, which at least had a murder at the center of its plot, this film revolves around a kidnapping. Not so much of a Murder Mystery for round two. If this kidnapping were used to create an interesting, less basic plot, then maybe we’d get something where the full scheme can’t be deduced during the scene it’s introduced in. However, things pick up when the film gathers the full supporting cast, similar to the first film, this time made up of the Colonel (John Kani), bride-to-be Claudette (Mélanie Laurent), the Countess Sekou (Jodie Turner-Smith), retired soccer player Francisco (Enrique Arce), and the Maharajah’s sister Saira (Kuhoo Verma). The group dynamics work well, using the back-and-forth to create some of the few laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout the film.

To be fair, Murder Mystery 2 is fun, and is undeniably a good time at the theater. If you’re going to see a movie and want to be in and out in under two hours and don’t want to overthink the story or characters of the movie you’re watching, then this one is probably for you. What makes Murder Mystery 2 stand out above films in this genre is the screen presence of Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, who are clearly having a blast making this movie. The two of them know what works and what doesn’t, and have great chemistry to back up their comedy.

(L-R) Jennifer Aniston as Audrey Spitz and Adam Sandler as Nick Spitz in Murder Mystery 2. Cr. Netflix © 2023.

Tom Costain and Brian Robinson’s editing keeps the runtime tight, allowing us not to overthink the film’s plot and messy third act. Speaking of which, the third act simply leans into the absurd tropes and intricacies of the genre, few of which land well. However, the benefit of this is we get a fun sequence set in the Eiffel Tower, which is always a plus for me. As I said, Murder Mystery 2 is fun. Adam Sandler has clearly figured out the best way to get an all-expenses paid vacation to almost anywhere in the world, and I respect that. The film is a nice addition to Sandler and Aniston’s filmographies but isn’t much more. It’s primarily held back by a dull script, resulting in a forgettable outcome. The self-aware nature of the dialogue in MM2 is definitely one of the best parts writing-wise. Too many beats and character relationships being reused from the first film lower the stakes while being saved by the grandiose on-location set pieces to fully immerse the viewers in the film’s story, even if, at times, it’s unconvincing.

Murder Mystery 2 arrives on Netflix on Friday, March 31.