Reunion Review: A Perfect Cast Let Down by a Half-Baked Script

These days, it seems everyone is getting in on the murder mystery craze. ‘Whodunnit’ films and shows have never been more popular. So when Reunion came along, with its fun premise of a high school reunion turning deadly, it had all the ingredients to be a real hit. The story follows a group of former classmates gathering at a fancy mansion for their 20-year get-together. Things take a turn, though, when their rich and arrogant host is found dead the next morning. With a blizzard raging outside, the remaining guests are trapped, and one of them must be the killer. On paper, this plot sets up an entertaining game of Clue for our characters and viewers alike to play at home.

Helping things seem even more promising is the terrific cast assembled. Names like Billy Magnussen, Lil Rel Howery, and Nina Dobrev give audiences a wonderful mix of humor and heart. These pros are more than capable of breathing life into their characters and building genuine chemistry together. Their talents suggested Reunion could balance comedy and mystery in a truly fun and engaging way. Unfortunately, that’s not quite how it pans out. While the actors do their best, the generic script and direction fail to use them effectively or put a fresh spin on this familiar murder tale. Before long, viewers realize they’ve seen it all done better elsewhere, time and again.

So in the end, Reunion proves to be more of a missed opportunity than a memorable new entry in the genre. With more creative risks taken and the story’s full potential unlocked, this could have been a winning whodunit for the whole class. As is, it’s destined to be the forgettable C student of murder mysteries.

Growing Pains at the Ridgeview Reunion

So the basic set-up is this: it’s been 20 years since graduation for a group of former classmates. They’re all coming together at the lavish mansion of Mathew, the typical rich and arrogant jock type everyone knew in high school. Stepping back into that world awakens some deeply buried feelings.

First, you’ve got Evan, the guy who never quite lived up to the potential everyone expected. Now he’s just a small-town cop trying to prove himself. His best friend Ray is along for the ride, but it’s clear he’s been drifting since school without much direction. Both are curious what’s become of Jasmine, a girl Evan had his eye on back then.

Speaking of romances, the chemistry is definitely still there between Evan and Jasmine, despite being two decades apart. But there are complications, like Amanda, who was the big, popular girl in charge of everything. It turns out she’s gotten super serious, with political dreams that have her hesitant to let loose.

Then there’s Vivian, a total mystery to everyone. She doesn’t talk much about what she’s done since graduation, but you can tell just being there opens some deep wounds from her past. It’s obvious the night won’t end well once she inevitably speaks her truth.

Through it all, Matthew plays host with all the charm of a used car salesman. He’s clearly unchanged, but the years have left others with some major growing up to do. So as the drinks flow and walls come down, tensions start simmering under the surface. Old grudges and secrets threaten to boil over before this night is through.

Bitter Homecomings

Well, the party was definitely over after that morning. You can imagine the shock of finding Matthew sprawled out, not breathing. Talk about a rude awakening!

Nobody was ready for that first sight. Poor Jasmine was the one to discover the body and let out an ear-piercing scream that got the others rushing in. Even Evan, with his police experience, looked shaken up to see a classmate in such a state.

With the phones out, Evan knew he’d have to take charge of the investigation. It is easier said than done when anyone present could be the killer. Everyone was clearly rattled too, claiming not to remember much after drinking so much. But Evan noticed a few acting more on edge than others.

Amanda seemed way too composed for someone in her position. He got the sense that she was hiding something. And Vivian was even jumpier than the night before, acting almost deranged at times. Those two were on Evan’s suspect list early on.

As they combed the crime scene, clues started emerging. A gun was found discarded in the snow, plus some of Matthew’s text messages on Jasmine’s phone seemed off. They suggested Matthew may not have been the upstanding guy everyone thought.

Those messages especially got Amanda and Vivian fuming again. Old arguments from school were definitely resurfacing. You could see the accusations building between them all, fingers starting to point over past transgressions.

Evan tried to keep the peace as best he could, gently pressing each person to account for their actions. But tensions were sky high being trapped together; the truth might tear these once friends apart all over again before they saw the outside of those mansion walls.

Troubled Homecomings

With Matthew gone, everyone was eyeing him with suspicion. It seemed we all had bones to pick with the guy back in the day. Digging into what motivates each person makes for an uneasy task.

Vivian’s always been peculiar, but her vendetta against Mathew ran deep, according to her big speech. It didn’t help that she kept muttering about “surprises” all night. Still, taking revenge after 20 years’ is a long game.

Amanda and Matthew did have their clashes too. It turns out he spread some rumors back in school that she’s still paying for in politics. Though calculated as she is, could she really commit murder?

Evan and Ray were close with Matthew once, but they fell out after football. Ray’s always been loyal to Evan, though—maybe too loyal for his own good.

As for Jasmine, she was torn up over Evan for years, it seems. But those secret texts suggest Matthew wronged her recently in more ways than one. Motive and opportunity were there, that’s for sure.

Mr. Buckley kept pouring drinks like it was going out of style. He probably wanted to dull old memories, but did he have darker reasons? His story never quite added up.

Each of us had our demons awakened at this reunion. With the storm raging, tensions were high. Any one of us could’ve been pushed too far in a painful blast from the past.

Doubting the Direction

This movie wants to be a comedy whodunit, but the balance is off. The investigation into Mathew’s death speeds by in a blink, without much tension building. We don’t get to really dig into each suspect’s dealings or see the clues unravel in a thrilling way.

Instead, too many distractions pull us away. The film loves goofing around, yet some gags just don’t land. That bizarre scene with Ray and the pregnant woman after duct-taping his hands? It drags on and feels out of place. Moments like that undermine the importance of finding a killer.

The plotline also hits familiar beats we’ve tracked before. Not enough surprises emerge to keep us guessing along with Evan. By the time the big reveal arrives, it’s a shrug rather than an “Aha!” moment.

Now I get that director Chris Nelson wanted this reunion to be inherently awkward and weird. But balancing comedy with core drama is a tricky art, and striking that balance eluded him here. The director lets the improv carry things too far, losing sight of the central mystery.

Between the rushed pace and tonal shifts that downplayed the danger, my interest drifted. It’s a shame, as the cast is so talented. With a tighter script and a surer hand on the tone, this could have been one hell of a comedic whodunit. As is, the direction does it a few favors.

Questioning the Creative Choices

This movie had so much potential with that talented cast, but I can’t help feeling like the directing and writing let them down. Chris Nelson seems to favor wild improvisation over crafting a truly tight mystery.

The snowed-in mansion setting is practically begging for tense drama as clues are uncovered. Yet the screenplay doesn’t fully utilize spaces around every corner. We don’t get that real feeling of being trapped with a killer.

Characters are also underserved. Each actor nails their roles, bringing nuance even with limited material. Lil Rel Howery and Jamie Chung in particular steal many scenes with their electric performances.

But the script fails to excavate rich depths just below the surface. I’m left wanting to know more about everyone’s history and the psychology motivating their moves. More could’ve been mined from relationships and backstories.

Some casting feels slightly off too. No disrespect is meant, but Billy Magnussen spreading awkward small talk doesn’t play to his comedic strengths. And the detective simply floundering comes across as peculiar.

In contrast, Jillian Bell thrives as the odd woman out. Her quirky line delivery had me hanging on every word. She shows what this ensemble could’ve achieved with stronger direction and fleshed-out roles.

The improv energy is fun for a while, but leaving actual clues and motives loosely defined saps mystery momentum. By the end, who really cares who did it?

With a sharper script matching this lineup’s comedic caliber, Reunion could’ve been so much more than an unfocused whodunnit that fades fast. Such a waste of talent, in my opinion.

Reunion: A Wasted Opportunity

Ultimately, Reunion had so much potential that it just couldn’t fulfill it. This cast is insanely talented, and their chemistry kept me watching even as the plot got predictable. But they deserved a tighter script that took more risks.

The high school reunion setting offered chances for real drama. Exploring how past pains resurface could have made this mystery really sing. Instead, we got a routine whodunit that didn’t know if it wanted to be funny or not.

And what a shame, because the genre is thriving like never before with subversive spins on detective stories. Modern audiences want more than an easy conclusion. We want complex, surprising tales that keep us guessing to the very end.

If you’re looking for a mystery that taps into real human emotion while keeping you on your toes, then I’d suggest something like Knives Out. Or Only Murders in the Building for witty fun that still packs an emotional punch. Even The Afterparty shows a reunion setting has potential for creative storytelling.

Reunion was an enjoyable enough way to spend an evening. But for a smarter, more captivating experience, look elsewhere and let this one stay the forgotten whodunit that it is. Our favorite stars here were done a disservice by such an uninspired script.