See How They Run

It may not be the smartest or funniest whodunit out there but See How They Run is still a really fun murder mystery that succeeds at creating an engaging mystery and solid gag rate bolstered by some surprisingly dark and mature themes.

Sam Rockwell gives a great lead performance as the calm amongst a very chaotic storm of over the top performances with an impressively strong accent that never slips. Saorsie Ronan is the standout though with fantastic comedic timing and an always lovable presence.

Tom George's direction is really good, thankfully not too focused on homaging Wes Anderson and instead delivering a stylish film with some snappy editing and nice split screen. The music by Daniel Pemberton is good, matching the films quirky nature.

Q. When is too much split screen too much?

A. See How They Run.

I was so looking forward to this that i can't help feeling a tinge of disappointment. Towards the end of See How They Run, i was feeling almost nauseous with the use of split screen. It's every 5 minutes, and i'm not joking.

The movie thinks it's a lot cleverer than it is (telling us how the movie will end, the clever wink winks all the time). Some of the humour is great, mostly involving Saoirse Ronan who shows she's gifted in physical comedy and slapstick as well as everything else she puts her mind too.

The movie, for a whodunit, fails to fill the story with credible suspects and towards the end i had mostly lost interest in who the murderer was even going to be. Adrien Brody is great for the amount of screen time he receives but whenever he, Sam Rockwell or Saoirse aren't on screen, the movie drags.

Tom George's direction isn't the best and it makes me wonder what the film could look like if in better hands. Outside of the split screen issues, quick cuts are another constant but just makes me think of better directors and the lifting Tom George is taking from superior movies.

I went in to this hoping for another Knives Out but sadly this is nowhere near it.

I don't know if it's the cozy cinematography, the many tracking shots, or two actors that have been in a lot of his films, but this movie has a real whimsical, wholesome, Wes Anderson vibe to it and I liked it. Saoirse Ronan is incredibly cute and comical in her role as a apprentice cop learning the trade and trying to solve the mystery. Her puns in the beginning are pretty funny, and she just has such a sweet aura throughout that weirdly fits with the movie.

The film moves at a leisurely pace, almost like a British afternoon tea on a rainy day. Or drinking hot cocoa while watching an Agatha Christie murder mystery as the snow falls outside. That kind of vibe, and I'm here for it.

Oh, and we get to see Adrien Brody in a Grand Budapest Hotel-like rich jerk role, and it's pretty great.

This is one of those films that people have rubbished purely because it's primary purpose is to entertain. And that's a great shame, because in these troubled times that's perhaps exactly what people want. A good night out at the cinema.

Saoirse Ronan again proves what a huge career she could go on to have, this time adding light comedy to her range of skills, in this murder mystery caper.

These are ten a penny right now, both on the big and small screen, but 'See How They Run' manages to find its own style, with some clever tricks up its sleeve throughout.

There are lots of big or recognisable faces dotted throughout this fun film, but the stand-outs are Ronan and Sam Rockwell as her superior. I'd actually be happy if this led to another outing for the pair.

Overall, good fun.

It doesn't pretend to be high art. It's silly and enjoyable and was the equivalent of enjoying a good piece of cake - pleasurable but soon forgotten.

The performances are good and we loved the butler at the end. We could even guess some of the lines and also the ending, but it didn't matter. Yes, there were Wes Anderson type moments and yes, the make up and hair was wrong for the the period for Saoirse Ronan, and there was an absence of smoke in the pub etc it's supposed to be 1950s England... but I guess it was going for theatrical rather than realism.

If you want an easy going film that makes you laugh and smile - this is the film. (And so much better than the remakes of Agatha Christie)