Mystery-comedy See How They Run is distributed by Searchlight Pictures. In 1953 London, the cast and crew of Agatha Christie’s (Shirley Henderson) play The Mousetrap are celebrating 100 performances, but the party is ruined by Hollywood director Leo Köpernick (Adrien Brody). He is then found murdered in the theatre, and multiple people have a motivation. It is now up to the experienced but regularly intoxicated Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and the young, overly-effusive Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) to get to the bottom of it and catch the killer before they strike again.
PROS
- There are a fair number of amusing gags over the course of the narrative, and the Stoppard-Stalker dynamic is cleverly rotated halfway through.
- Sam Rockwell and Saoirse Ronan have a fun double-act and good chemistry, whilst Adrien Brody is the most memorable supporting player.
- Handsome costume and production design work give this filmic recreation of 1950s’ London a sense of period authenticity.
CONS
- There are a number of gags that miss the mark due to screenwriter Mark Chappell’s constant and indecisive efforts to evoke old school British B-Movies and create witty send-ups of Agatha Christie adaptations.
- The constant references and send-ups of Agatha Christie is to the film’s detriment as it just makes you think of older (and frankly better) films.
- The supporting cast are mostly forgettable – a shame given that it includes Ruth Wilson, Reece Shearsmith and David Oyelowo.
VERDICT: 5/10
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