Murder Mystery 2 is the typical film you expect from Netflix and Adam Sandler, but with the movie star power from Sandler and Jennifer Aniston and the dazzle of shooting on location. The film should be a fun, quick watch, but unfortunately, it feels like neither a comedy nor a mystery, but just whatever passes for easy entertainment. 

The partnership between Adam Sandler and Netflix has kept the Sandman out of theaters and as easy home entertainment. Murder Mystery 2 has Sandler in exotic locations partnering with a former co-star, Jennifer Aniston, and allows him to just be the magnetic star he is. Aniston and Sandler have incredible chemistry with one another, and watching them on screen in Hawaii and Paris shows why they’ve maintained their star power over the years; despite the film feeling flat and formulaic, the two keep your attention throughout the short runtime. 

The first installment didn’t exactly set up a sequel, but Murder Mystery 2 follows the same pattern with Audrey (Aniston) and Nick (Sandler) finding themselves in a luxurious setting and a mysterious kidnapping occurring that the couple must solve. The Spitz couple travel to an island destination wedding for their friend Maharajah (Adeel Akhtar) and his soon-to-be wife Claudette (Mélanie Laurent). Once on the island, trouble follows the couple as Maharajah is kidnapped and our investigators-pending-license must solve the case. An actual detective (Mark Strong) is assigned to the case since the kidnapper is demanding millions of dollars in ransom, but the kidnappers only want to speak to Nick, keeping our main characters integral to the plot.

Murder Mystery 2 should be an easy watch as it is quite formulaic and it’s easy to guess each twist and turn before the events unfold, but the film feels almost lifeless. The star power radiating from Aniston and Sandler and an all-star ensemble, including Jodie Turner-Smith and an amazing surprise cameo, do most of the heavy lifting to keep audiences entertained; however, you can see why after all these years, Aniston and Sandler are still in demand to entertain young and old audiences. Aniston is great with physical comedy and appears almost effortless as an action comedienne. Sandler, despite having a weak script, has perfect comedic timing and feels comforting to watch in the formula that has worked for him for decades. 

Despite the star power, beautiful locations, and decent stunt work, Murder Mystery 2 falls flat. It feels forgettable before the film even concludes. The film has nothing new to say about mystery or comedy genres, and it somehow doesn’t feel like either a comedy or a mystery. The humor feels dated as it’s trying to not push any buttons but feels so by-the-numbers. Aniston, Sandler, and the rest of the cast are unable to save a stale-looking film from a poor script. 

Murder Mystery 2 is the typical film you expect from Netflix and Sandler, but with the movie star power from Sandler and Aniston and the dazzle of shooting on location. The film should be a fun, quick watch, but unfortunately, it feels neither a comedy nor a mystery, but just whatever passes for easy entertainment. 

Grade: D-

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Release Date: March 31, 2023
Where to Watch: In Select Theaters; Netflix

Kenzie Vanunu
she/her @kenzvanunu
Lives in LA with her husband, daughter and dog. Misses Arclight, loves iced vanilla coffees.
Favorite Director: Darren Aronofsky
Sign: Capricorn