Clue: A Cinematic Treasure
A dark comedy littered with perfection.
The year is 1985. A tidal wave of comedies flow into movie theaters across the nation. Among them are titles like The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and National Lampoons: European Vacation. All three have very successful openings. That year, however, an unexpected cult classic was to be born.
Opening to mixed reviews and only grossing $14.6 million (just under it’s $15 million budget), Clue was a box office bomb compared to other well-received movies released that same year. In my personal opinion, this is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. An opinion, I have found, that many more share with me.
I remember in the early ’90s, this movie was on TV a lot. Any and every time I saw it was on, I would watch it. No question. It never mattered to me what part of the movie I was coming in on. I would drop everything and watch it. When asked by others what my favorite movie is, it has always been a resounding: Clue.
It’s astounding to me that this movie didn’t do well when it was originally released that cold day in December of 1985. It was met with less than stellar reviews. Roger Ebert gave it two stars, saying, “And fun, I must say, is in short supply...” What?! Huh?! It is nothing short of shocking to me that it wasn’t as well-received as it was to, well, me.
I think one of the big reasons that I have always found this movie to be one of the funniest I’ve ever watched, is partly because of British writer/director Jonathan Lynn. I’m a huge fan of British comedy, so it comes as no surprise that I would find the movie screenplay (penned by a British writer) hilarious on every level.
I’m obviously not alone. Over the years, it has developed a larger than life cult following. And honestly, how could it not have. Not only is it sublimely written, but it’s also brilliantly cast. Each actor in the film delivers their lines with perfect comedic timing that is nothing short of genius.
The delivery of lines, though, isn’t the only thing in this film that is perfect. The facial expressions of the actors, when they aren’t speaking, are just as amazing as when they are. Mrs. White, for example, is fall on the floor laughing funny. The looks of disgust that paint her face throughout the movie are almost more than I can handle.
If I had to pick a favorite character (which is next to impossible as they are all incredible), it would have to be Mrs. Peacock. Eileen Brennan could not have been a better choice. Her response to the “socialist” comment by Wadsworth is hysterical. When she asks Yvette where the bathroom is, I howl with laughter. The entire exchange between the two is glorious.
To this day, I consistently am laughing throughout this entire movie. It never gets old to me. It was, in fact, the first DVD I ever bought. I still have that copy sitting on my shelf. If I’m not having the best day, I put on Clue. Rainy day? Put on Clue. Want something on just for background noise? Clue. The answer is always Clue.
For good reason, too. Odds are you’ve seen this film. The odds are even more that you love it. That you grew up watching it. I’ve yet to come across a person who doesn’t love this movie. They are out there though. It’s sad and confusing to me that such people exist. My hope for those people is that one day they will find what they need the most…a clue.
