MovieChat Forums > Murder by Death (1976) Discussion > HUMOR??

HUMOR??

posted 18 years ago by mindybiz
100 replies | jump to latest

I purchased this movie after reading many great reviews on it. I just sat and watched about 30 min. of it and had to turn it off. Its one of those I'll have to get back to. I guess I just don't quite understand the humor in it. I did however enjoy the more modern "clue" which I guess is somethint like it. I suppose the things that were supposed to be funny to the audience I just thought were stupid. An example would be when the one couple is being shown their room and the butler says something about a fire burning in their room and when they open their door there is a fire in the middle of their bed. Thats a little odd to me. Now remember I only watched 30 minuets of it. I will give the rest a try though.

[–] wrenage 16 years ago

I just purchased this movie after wanting to see it for a long time. I was let down. It wasn't the humor that I found lacking or the characters. The actors worked with what they had. The problem was the story. Nothing much happened. The whole movie is people showing up and then an extended revelation scene, an absurd extended relevation scene. Exposition, exposition, exposition for nothing happening. The actual crime and subsequent investigation are lacking in interest. Whatever twists are in the film are random exposition out of left field. If all this was intended to be a satire of mystery stories, it was still quite uninteresting.

So, yeah, my only problem with the movie is lacking in story.

[–] mam13143 16 years ago

This movie is boring -- all in caps and bold letters!!! I get the humor, I get all the parody of famous inspectors, and I love most of the actors -- but as you said, the humor is not enough to carry a film where nothing happens. I cannot understand why it would get great reviews except that everyone liked Neil Simon at the time. A waste of nearly two hours.

[–] ParabolaofMystery 15 years ago

'...a film where nothing happens.'

Uh, something DID happen: I laughed a *beep* load of times. And I'm not well-versed in detective fiction, either. I'm aware of the characters being spoofed, and that was good enough for me to laugh my heiney off pretty much the whole time.

Then again, I was in disguise in disguise in disguise...

[–] the_dude6789 14 years ago

It's one of those "silly humor" movies as I call it. Like your Airplanes, Naked Guns etc. I will admit that I never seen this movie until last week (I've never heard of it) but I noticed on a message board someone mentioning that if you liked Clue or Oscar w/ Sly Stallone (grossly underated film IMO) then you'll like this one.

I streamed the movie on my PS3 and seeing the opening credits I'm seeing Columbo, Dr. Strangelove and Obi-Wan are in it (haha sorry I type cast people) and w/ the opening scene w/ Jamesir Bensonmum trying to stamp the envelopes just set the tone for the film.

People nowadays need realism in everything they watch and can't/won't even try to enjoy an older film (I know people who refuse to watch something because it's in b&w)or a "silly" film. I enjoyed this film because of the absurdness of it all. Granted every now and again some of the sound fx came off as a bit cheesy and cartoony but it did fit the spectrum of the film. More or less like a live action Bugs Bunny cartoon.

It's fine that there are people who dislike this film and it's fine that there are people who do like this film. I enjoyed it and that's all that matters to me in the long run.

Now, I'm off to check out Noises Off (another film which I understand is like Oscar/Clue/Murder By Death but not quite)

[–] TopFlight 14 years ago

I agree completely. A very lame comedy that would never impress anyone who didn't see it in the 70's.

[–] Chalumeau2 14 years ago

Agree with wrenage and mam13143. I had higher expectations for an ensemble movie like this, and was quickly let down. Where did the plot go? So much more could have happened, they were riffing on 5 well known detectives, and IMO did not use them to their full potential. While there were humorous bits, it all became tedious after a while. I'm a fan of Sherlock Holmes stories, and this did nothing for me.

Maybe I need to watch it again. The jury is still out on this one.

[–] historyguy6785 14 years ago

I thought the Movie was great!!! I had seen it years ago, and I bought it a few days ago and watched it again...You don't see much humor of this type...Lately, all you get on TV or at the Movies is Vulgar or Total Crap Humor Ex: all the Jack Ass movies...How can a person get Larry the Cable Guy, but not this movie? It's beyond me...(sigh):)

[–] mrgogonyc 14 years ago

MBD is a consistantly funny film and holds up so well after 35 years. You don't have to be a mystery fan to appreciate it, but it certainly helps.

It is silly, literate and has one of the best casts ever assembled for a film.

Plus...it is sublimely politically incorrect. I mean "Poodle Hunting"? There is no hedging for fear of hurting feelings or rousing the ire of a subgroup. All are targets here.

It is a rude film with quite the high tone. It deserved every bit of its success.

"If it is not in the frame, it does not exist!"

[–] Mandrakegray 14 years ago

Love this film. I own the DVD... and have passed my fandom for the film onto my kids. I think mrgogonyc's comments above are spot on. Such a funny film, with some really great comedic performances. I may even enjoy the film more today, as I am much more familiar with the literary chracters spoofed in the film.

People keep mentioning Airplane! and the like, but I'll take this fine comedy over that 1980 classic (as well as the plethora of films that "Airplane!" begat).

Just a wonderful comedy.

[–] richimorton 14 years ago

" there's a fire in your room " . . . what's not funny about that ? You do realise back in the old days they heated buildings with fireplaces , right ? Tell me you know that !

That which does not Kill me makes me Stranger . . .

[–] warren_houghton 14 years ago

I think so much of whether one can enjoy the style of humor in a particular movie involves one's personal makeup, likes and turnoffs, etc.

There are tons of "comedians" I wouldn't watch if you paid me, because the little I've seen of their style of comedy just turns me off. Martin Mull is so flat and deadpan just hearing his voice when he was in his heyday bored me silly. I hated Jim Carrey up until "Series of Unfortunate Events" which I think he's hilarious in.

Then there's the style of the movie itself. I found watching "Napoleon Dynamite" very uncomfortable the first time, but after getting past the discomfort of laughing at (lets face it) social retards, I'm OK with it now, though it's not one of my favorites.

In my mind, "Murder by Death's" humor is related to (in no particular order) "Princess Bride," "Airplane," Monty Python, Mel Brooks movies, "Clue," Pink Panther movies, Alfred Hitchcock's little intros to his shows and so much else that I grew up with or came to love later.

It also has to do with your mood and who you're with the first time you see a movie. That first impression can make or break that movie for you forever. I guarantee if I had been a young teen having a sleepover with my best friend, and had seen "Ace Ventura" at midnight in that giggly mood for the first time I'd LOVE Jim Carrey now. (I've actually never seen it, BTW.)

So if you like any of the stuff on my list, watch one of them, then watch "Murder by Death" again and see if your opinion changes. Though it might be too late now for you to like "Murder by Death."

To me it's just eminently quotable; jokes and lines from it pop into my head constantly in everyday situations, and there are plenty of other comedies (that I love, even) that just don't have that quality.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] blondeblue1 10 years ago

I am very familiar with the detectives spoofed in this movie. I also love off-the-wall humor like Monty Python, Kids in the Hall, Airplane, etc. That being said, I thought this movie was horrendously unfunny, lame, and just plain stupid. In fact, the only barely humorous part of the whole movie was at the very beginning, when the blind butler stamped the envelopes. The rest was downhill from there. I was appalled at what was supposed to pass for humor. If something like this was released today, people would throw garbage at the screen and then walk out.

[–] gallae 12 years ago

I saw it on TV last week and I have to admit I was pretty bored until the "murder" took place. Also, I didn't find the humour between a blind butler and a deaf/dumb maid funny at all. Partly because I have friends with such disabilities, but also, why hire such a combination?

Laura Ess

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] VinnieRattolle 11 years ago

I've seen the title a billion times but just watched it for the first time and immediately connected the dots to "Clue" (partly because of Brennan); however, that film was more accessible to mainstream moviegoers. This film doesn't remind me of "Airplane" at all, it's more like "Elvira's Haunted Hills," which spoofed the Roger Corman/Vincent Price/Edgar Allan Poe movies. If you're not familiar with the films being spoofed then you're not really in on the jokes.