Columbo: Undercover

Even though the majority of people find the new (1989-2003) Columbo movies inferior to the classic episodes from the 1970's, I actually find them usually to be on par with the originals. For one thing, the newer episodes have much better production values; the cinematography and original musical scores are often striking and skillfully done. That being said, this particular "new" installment was a disappointment for me.

The premise of the movie is certainly intriguing - two men are killed in a seedy apartment and one of them has a jigsaw like piece of a picture. This leads Columbo into a complex mystery which involves finding the many pieces of a photograph that reveals the location of $4 million worth of stolen loot. This money was attained from a heist many years ago, where all four of the robbers were shot to death after they had already hidden the cash. Columbo then goes "undercover" to try to gain all the pieces of the puzzle from many different colorful characters before someone beats him to the punch.

The plot originated from an Ed McBain novel (Jigsaw) and it is an odd choice to mold the Columbo character into a seemingly unrelated novel. This results in a drastic change from the usual Columbo formula we all love and the results are lukewarm. While it was nice to see Peter Falk exercise his acting range in this movie by playing many different characters while undercover, the movie doesn't have the essential ingredient that made the Columbo franchise successful in the first place - the cat and mouse game. Without this dynamic the movie's momentum drags and by the end of the movie when the villain was revealed I really didn't care much. The "who-dunnit" aspect was not strong enough for me to care and the killer was not convincing nor exciting enough for this movie to be a success.

Some bright spots of the episode was the brilliant (but much too short) performance of Tyne Daly as the pitiful, sleazy ex-hooker Dorothea McNally. The scenes between her and Peter Falk crackle with electricity and their one scene together is the highlight of the movie. The musical score by Dick De Benedictis has a film-noir sound to it and adds to the atmosphere of the movie. The cinematography is uncharacteristically gritty and dark for a Columbo movie - which commonly focuses on the life of the rich and elegant.

Overall, this was an enjoyable but mediocre Columbo entry. Still recommended despite its shortcomings.

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.

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?

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