Columbo: Undercover

A 1994 Columbo story that goes out of its way, even by modern Columbo standards, to remove the entrenched shackles of the style and execution exhibited in the original series.

The puzzling plot involves a piece of a black and white photograph found at the scene of a double murder in an apartment. An insurance investigator later comes forward providing Columbo with a ripped piece of paper partly showing the names of people who possess the other pieces of the photograph, which when wholly assembled, will identify the whereabouts of a hidden loot stemming from a bungled robbery a few years ago.

Undoubtedly, plenty of energy and ambition was plunged into this Columbo adventure at the conception stage, but the plot's positive properties are undone by a script which drags it's revelations around with it rather mundanely rather than inserts them with conviction. Also, the characters also lack a certain lustre and fail to raise the profile of the whole episode.

Columbo's donning of disguises means that he is hardly in his trademark mac and for die-hard fans this is a little hard to stomach, despite Falk's obvious self-pleasure in diversifying his character on screen.

Not a total washout by any means and mildly entertaining in its own way, the identity of the culprit (revealed about 5 minutes from the end) is however unsurprising and moreover, there is absolutely no opportunity for a battle of wits between Columbo and murderer, which was the hallmark of the original series.

A warning to all fans of the old 70's Columbo series: extreme broad-mindedness (or amnesia) might allow you to partially enjoy this episode, but it simply builds up the plot and fails to sustain it's intensity.

It seems that Peter Falk didn't mind veering from the "Columbo" formula from time to time, but the attempts weren't always successful. "Undercover" from season 12 is one example.

The big problem is that it isn't a script meant for Columbo, and very little was done to adapt it to our rumpled lieutenant. It begins in a precinct and concerns the hunt for pieces of a photograph, cut to resemble jigsaw pieces, that will tell the police where $4 million was hidden after a robbery six years earlier. When they are approached by the insurance agent (Ed Begley, Jr.) who couldn't recover the money, the captain says that Columbo and another detective (Harrison Page) can take it on.

It's not an altogether unsuccessful episode, but the beginning is offputting. It's not just the precinct set and a 67-year-old man getting permission from his captain, it's the fact that the dialogue and setup are just not the character in any way, shape, or form.

Later it becomes fun, when Columbo actually goes undercover as a low-life to track down the photo pieces and then as a Mafia godfather. Also, he has good scenes with the real-life Mrs. Falk, Shera Danese, and a fun scene with Tyne Daly, who plays an old hooker. However, this scene wasn't in tune with Columbo either as I don't think he would have kissed her on the lips.

Burt Young, who once played Columbo in Murder Can Hurt You - but the name was changed to Palumbo - is one of the people looking for the puzzle, and the absolutely gorgeous Kristen Bauer, now Kristen Bauer von Straten is Begley's girlfriend.

There is a little Columboism at the end.

I can't say I didn't enjoy this episode because it's hard not to enjoy Columbo and I always took him any way I could get him. I'm just disappointed that a little more effort wasn't put into the script -- it actually could have been a Movie of the Week with Falk playing a completely different character.

UNDERCOVER is an odd entry in the late-stage COLUMBO, probably the episode with the least of a general COLUMBO feel ever. That's because it's based on a novel by Ed McBain that has nothing to do with Columbo whatsoever, but which was adapted to try to fit into the Columbo mould. It doesn't work very well, as at an hour and a half the plot feels padded and dragged out and there are some of those annoying moments where plot elements are being spoon-fed to the audience. But the fact that UNDERCOVER remains watchable and - to a degree - oddly enjoyable at all is a testament to the skill of the actors involved.

It's clear that Peter Falk is relishing the chance to play 'dress up' here, appearing as a gangster and even mafia don at one point. He gets beaten up and even threatens someone with a gun. The supporting cast is very good too, even though Ed Begley Jr. gives a horrible turn as the insurance man. Burt Young (ROCKY) is pretty much playing Paulie here and as lovable as ever, and Tyne Daly is an arresting sight as a washed-up hooker. Finally, it was great for me to see Harrison Page (A.W.O.L.) in support. UNDERCOVER isn't an entire successfully production, but COLUMBO fans will probably enjoy it just for the sheer oddness of it all.

I reasonably liked Undercover, but I can think of better and perhaps more interesting episodes. My complaints are some moments where the script, while mostly amusing and fun, loses lustre especially towards the end, the last 15 minutes doesn't hold that many surprises and feels unsatisfying and while Ed Begley Jnr is good actually I found the character underwritten. However, it is beautifully filmed with a fitting score and an intriguing, well paced and fun story. Columbo is different to how he's usually written, but Peter Falk puts his versatility to the limit and is as always entertaining. The support cast manage to be more memorable than Begley, with Tyne Daly just as good as with her performance in the Columbo episode A Bird in the Hand, Burt Young is amusing but faring best is Harrison Page who is a delight as Columbo's partner. Overall, entertaining and solid if not one of the better episodes. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I was astonished to watch such a Columbo episode, so different from all the others. And since the beginning of the whole show, which I have seen every episode, I have often seen some elements different from the usual and recurrent schemes: for instance Columbo appears before the crime is committed: a crime committed by two persons; Columbo lets the murderer gets away; even one episode when there is no murder but only a disappearance... But here, there is a real mystery scheme, the audience doesn't see the murder occurring, a mystery scheme as we could see in any other mystery crime scheme. Columbo doesn't look like Columbo, different outfit, he carries a gun and handles it, he receives a hit in the face, he kisses a gal - Tyne Daly - on the mouth...

That's totally different, but after all why not?