Reunion

With its B-movie cast, director Chris Nelson's murder-mystery comedy "Reunion" should be B-movie standard, but despite not being lol funny its whodunnit plot (from debut writer Willie Block & second-time Jake Emanuel) keep it engaging enough. Small-town douche Chace Crawford is slain at a 'Class of 01' high-school reunion at his mansion, with suspicion falling on those trapped there overnight (and subsequent days) by a huge snow-storm: Lil Rel Howery; politician Nina Dobrev; cop Billy Magnussen (good); reporter Jamie Chung; oddball Jillian Bell (meh); & teacher Michael Hitchcock... but whodunnit? It won't sweep any awards, but it ain't too bad.

Netflix's "Reunion" stands as a prime example of missed potential and lazy execution. What could have been an engaging and suspenseful whodunit instead devolves into a tedious and predictable film that fails to capture the viewer's interest. Directed by Chris Nelson, "Reunion" is marred by poor writing, unlikable characters, and an overly obvious plot that leaves little to the imagination.

The film's premise-a group of high school acquaintances reuniting at a rich classmate's house for their high school reunion only to confront a series of mysterious events-promises intrigue but delivers mediocrity. The writing is uninspired and formulaic, with dialogue that feels forced and unnatural. Characters spout lines that sound more like exposition dumps than genuine conversation, making it difficult to invest in their plights.

Perhaps the most glaring flaw of "Reunion" is its cast of unlikable characters. Each one is a walking cliché. These characters are so steeped in their stereotypes that they never transcend them, resulting in a group that is more annoying than endearing. Their interactions are devoid of depth, and their motivations are shallow, making it hard to care about their fates.

The film's plot is equally problematic. Any seasoned viewer will easily guess the identity of the culprit long before the big reveal, thanks to clumsy foreshadowing and an overreliance on red herrings that do little to mislead. The so-called twists are telegraphed well in advance, stripping away any potential for surprise or suspense. By the time the film reaches its climax, the audience is left feeling more vindicated than shocked, having figured out the ending far too early.

The pacing of "Reunion" is another major issue. The story drags in parts where it should be building tension and rushes through moments that could have provided crucial character development. This erratic pacing makes it hard to stay engaged, and many viewers will likely find their attention waning as the film progresses.

Even on a technical level, "Reunion" fails to impress. The cinematography is bland and uninspired, with generic shots that do little to enhance the mood or atmosphere. The score, meant to heighten the tension, often feels disconnected from the on-screen action, further diminishing any potential impact. But the worst part is the lack of anything funny in this "comedy".

In conclusion, "Reunion" is a disappointing and forgettable entry in the thriller/comedy genre. With lazy writing, unlikable characters, and a plot that is painfully easy to unravel, the film offers little to engage or entertain. For those seeking a gripping and well-crafted mystery, "Reunion" is one reunion better left unattended.

I think the score of 5 is pretty harsh, I actually thought this movie was really good.

True it could have been a bit polished in certain places and packed in even more jokes, but I enjoyed it.

I think Lil Rel Howery is brilliant in this, he almost reminds me of Kevin Hart, who might have been a better lead in this, just due to the fact he is such a great comedian and would have brought more laughs in.

The cast is good; they're all established actors, but I can't help but feel a different cast would have made a massive difference. I like Jamie Chung, I like Nina Dobrev, but not all actors suit comedy roles.

I did like the murder reveal at the end, guessed part of it, but the final reveal was a bit of a surprise.

All in all, had some really good laughs, could have been better but I enjoyed it.

What in God's name was this!

Half a movie looking like a bad teenage movie with bad acting and childish humour. Jokes and gags about sex, drinking and more sex are about 20 years old. Arrogant characters putting down weak-willing ones with the odd crazed one making stupid comments is also 20 years old.

Then out of nowhere come the finale and the whole plot of the movie comes out. A crime solved with the motive and murderers blurted out l, with details only the writers knew about. Totally ridiculous and pointless ending. And no reason to care about any of the characters either.

Oh, and there's another black character who just rambles constantly and is incessantly annoying, while throwing in the odd curse like a "tru-bro" does. How unoriginal.

Basically a load of utter rubbish!

I'd of given it a 6.25 actually maybe.

So, the film, overall, is a good watch. It is entertaining, it has some good quips and the acting doesn't completely suck.

It's the same as a B-rated horror movie I'd say, but actually a bit better.

The cinemtagrophy and the the pace of the movie is good for what it is.

The character Vivian is well written and showcases "neuro-spicy" in a funny and non-mean way. I found her character to be quite original and enjoyed her.

The rest of the characters are also written to fit their physical, mental, and occupational features as well.

As previously mentioned, the pace of the film is honestly about perfect for a murder mystery.

I don't believe most of any of us would see the twist coming, which is really the only issue with the movie in my opinion.

What do I mean? Well, I have categories of "murder mysteries" that I find simplify what concepts I mean.

Some are akin to the Scooby-Doo mystery type murders... where basically you could usually never guess who the culprit actually is.

Some may argue, sure... you may be lucky sometimes... but mostly... there are never enough clues or foreshadowing or developed story to truly know from observation who the killer is.

This movie obviously wasn't meet to be a deep thriller.

That being said, once again, the main issue is still how the reveal is done.

The story itself isn't the problem, it's the fact that it seems it was put together at the last minute as a "We have a deadline people who are we putting this murder on?!?"

I didn't expect a work of Shakespeare but it would have been nice to have actual clues, foreshadowing, and proper plot flow on how the film ended.

The way it was done, it could have been anyone, and it just detracts from the movie as a whole.

Sure, many movies do this... but once again... the "Scooby-Doo" effect was strong with this one. More perceived backstory and hints would have came a long way instead of the ending feeling as if it was just put together last minute. It's almost as it was written completely seperately from someone pulling a name out of a hate and writing the story around that person regardless of the first half of the movie.

The twist is actually a good one, and the character that solves the mystery really shows how observant and intelligent he is.

It didn't have to be a Sherlock Holmes... no, but could have added much needed depth to an otherwise shallow plot.

:The movie is a good watch, the characters fit their profiles for who and what they are. There are some great quips and general comedy in the film. However, not enough foreshadowing and a way to follow the clues to come to a consensus for the person watching the film.

For the long explanation, see above.

Thank you.