After the events of Murder Mystery, Audrey and Nick Spitz are working as full-time private detectives. Their new business is struggling, so they accept when their friend Vikram—the Maharajah—invites them to his wedding on a private island. There, they meet Vik’s fiancee and sister and are reunited with Colonel Ulenga (John Kani).
During the ceremony, Vik is kidnapped. A group of M16 agents arrive to help find Vik, and soon a $70 million ransom is demanded. Things go awry, and Audrey and Nick are framed for Vik’s kidnapping.
If you have seen the first Murder Mystery, you have already seen Murder Mystery 2. It follows the same beats, although instead of a murder, there is a kidnapping. Okay, so there is a murder, but it’s of a minor character, and the film focuses on finding Vik and getting him back in one piece.
The movie borrows many of the gags from the first film, including the framing of Nick and Audrey for the crime. And, as with the first film, the one thing that saves Murder Mystery 2 from being completely awful is the chemistry between Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Once again, they’re delightful on-screen together, and their banter kept me entertained.
Murder Mystery 2 definitely falls into the romantic “action” comedy, though there is less conflict between Nick and Audrey now than there had been before, which is fine! They’re struggling to legitimize their business, and I’m honestly glad this movie didn’t begin with the two having found success as private detectives. They absolutely need something at stake here – beyond the obvious frame job.
The supporting cast wasn’t as impressive as the first film, but they had their moments, and ultimately, they were there to increase the body count until Nick and Audrey cracked the case. I was disappointed in how little Jodie Turner-Smith and Melanie Laurent were used, but alas, this isn’t exactly an ensemble film, so it is what it is.
I left Murder Mystery 2 feeling the same way I had with the first film. It was fine. It’s a decent date night movie, especially if you’re an Adam Sandler and/or Jen Aniston fan. But it will not likely be a repeat viewing for most.
