On C List of Movie Reviews
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The Cheap Detective (1978)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
1/15
1/15:
I started with Murder by Death and followed up with The Cheap Detective, both written by Neil Simon.
The former set the bar so high that the latter had a hard time matching it. There are some familiar faces for another go-around
such as Peter Falk, James Coco, Eileen Brennan, and James Cromwell. It's a clever spoof mix of
Casablanca and
The Maltese Falcon with a modicum of
To Have and Have Not. To appreciate the film, it's best to
watch them beforehand, or you won't get it.
I find the gimmick a treat, causing me to think of the scenes, the lines, the characters, and
the atmosphere from these classic films noirs. However, there are more misfires than
not, and the momentum is never there to get the film going. No matter what, I had a good time and would want to see it again.
All in all, The Cheap Detective is a lovely fun that brought back memories.