After seven years away from the director's chair, David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook) has returned with the mystery comedy Amsterdam. The movie follows a trio of unlikely friends who, during a stay in Amsterdam in the 1930s, become suspects in a high-profile murder and must find the real culprit.
With a star-studded cast and an acclaimed director at the helm, Amsterdam could have real awards potential, but it's far from the only mystery comedy that fans would be wise to check out. The genre has a great pedigree going back many decades, with movies that give big laughs as well as brain-teasing whodunits.
8 Women (2002)
His name may not be well-known by American moviegoers, but François Ozon is a national treasure in France, and his films have been critically acclaimed for their humor and eroticism. One of his most famous movies is 8 Women, a darkly comedic musical in which the titular characters are all suspects in their family patriarch's murder.
At first glance, 8 Women has much in common with Amsterdam beyond the central murder plot. Both movies are period pieces (Amsterdam in the '30s, 8 Women in the '50s) featuring large ensembles, and the humor and tone are very much inspired by Old Hollywood screwball comedies.
Charade (1963)
A mystery romcom in the tradition of lighter Alfred Hitchcock, Charade stars Audrey Hepburn as Reggie Lambert, an American interpreter who must work with an international man of mystery (Cary Grant) in order to save herself from the men who murdered her husband after he stole from them.
Like Amsterdam, Charade has a light, fun atmosphere and a plot involving murder and political intrigue, but it also has some surprisingly menacing parts, particularly when characters start getting picked off. Perhaps that's why newcomers are often surprised at how perfect the movie is.
Clue (1985)
Based on the classic murder mystery board game, Clue takes the characters from the game and puts them in a hilarious send-up of all the genre's most beloved tropes. Although the movie was not a success when it was first released, its reputation has grown over time, with fans loving the all-star cast and rapid-fire gags.
Among Clue's greatest assets are talented performers like Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, and Michael McKean, and Amsterdam certainly follows in that direction. Beyond the three leads, the movie has a gigantic supporting cast, with everyone from Rami Malek to Mike Myers hamming it up.
Knives Out (2019)
With its sequel Glass Onion coming in December, one would be remiss to leave Knives Out off a list of mystery comedies. The plot is classic Agatha Christie-style material, following a private detective investigating the murder of an elderly author with the help of his golden-hearted housekeeper.
One of the things that makes Knives Out entertaining is the eccentric cast of characters, something that Amsterdam looks to have in spades. They also center around the murder of a famous person, with Amsterdam's victim being a US Senator, and Knives Out killing off best-selling author Harlan Thrombey.
The Great Muppet Caper (1981)
The Great Muppet Caper was the Muppets' second feature film after their big screen debut in 1979, and fans frequently consider it one of their best. The plot follows Kermit, Fozzie, and Gonzo as investigative journalists who must solve a case involving the missing jewels of glamorous fashion designer Lady Holiday (Diana Rigg).
While The Great Muppet Caper's villains don't stoop to murder, the movie still makes a good companion piece with Amsterdam for its delightfully whacky tone. They also both feature huge ensemble casts, with the Caper being filled to the brim with cameos by anyone from John Cleese to Oscar the Grouch.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Shane Black's directorial debut after years as a successful screenwriter, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang follows Harry Lockhart, an ex-con who is mistaken for an actor and sent to Hollywood for a screen test. But when he and a private detective witness the aftermath of a murder, the two must team up find the perp.
Downey and Val Kilmer also have great chemistry, and many fans on sites like Reddit consider the movie one of the best buddy comedies. Similarly, Amsterdam has a buddy dynamic between Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot Robbie, who early reviews have singled out for praise.
A Simple Favor (2018)
One of 2018's biggest sleeper hits, A Simple Favor stars Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers, a mommy blogger whose new friend Emily (Blake Lively) disappears under mysterious circumstances. The film did so well with both critics and audiences that a sequel is in development, with the two stars and director Paul Feig set to return.
As dark as A Simple Favor gets, it never forgets to be fun, and Kendrick makes for a charming lead who can seamlessly go from goofily charming antics to vicious verbal takedowns. Like Kendrick, Margot Robbie is a great actress in both dramatic and comedic roles, and she's sure to bring both A-games to Amsterdam.
The Naked Gun (1988)
After the Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker team took the spoof subgenre to new heights with Airplane!, they arguably perfected their formula with the police detective parody The Naked Gun. The movie introduced audiences to Leslie Nielsen's Frank Drebin, a bumbling cop who must prevent Queen Elizabeth II from being assassinated at an upcoming baseball game.
Unlike many mysteries, The Naked Gun makes it fairly obvious who is behind the evil plot, but that does nothing to slow down the film's constant jokes and sight gags. If Peter Bradshaw's review of Amsterdam calling it "exhaustingly whacky" (via The Guardian) is any indication, then perhaps the film will have a lot in common with the ZAZ brand.
Scream (1996)
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When Scream was first released, many considered slashers a dying breed, but horror master Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson breathed new life into the subgenre. Today, the movie is a bona fide classic, often considered to have one of the scariest opening scenes in horror.
While Amsterdam doesn't look like it will ever get as dark as scream, it looks like there will be some similarities, particularly in terms of their casts. Scream had actors like Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard providing big laughs, while Amsterdam will feature great dramatic thespians like Christian Bale and Rami Malek playing against type.
The Thin Man (1934)
The Thin Man was an instant classic that earned a Best Picture nomination, and it still enjoys a positive reputation today, with critics such as Roger Ebert calling it one of the best movies of all time (via RogerEbert.com). It may also have been an unlikely influence on Amsterdam, being a mystery comedy driven by a male-female team.
The story follows former private detective Nick Charles and his wife Nora, who must find a murderer in order to clear the name of one of Nick's former clients, but the case is ultimately a sideshow to the couple and their screwball antics. William Powell and Myrna Loy are having a great time, and their chemistry set the standard for crime-solving couples on screen, including the trio of Bale, Washington, and Robbie.