Drowning Mona – Film Review

Drowning Mona is a peculiar comedy film released in 2000, directed by Nick Gomez and featuring a star-studded ensemble cast including Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Neve Campbell, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Set in the sleepy fictional town of Verplanck, the movie revolves around the mysterious death of Mona Dearly (played by Bette Midler), a despised and cantankerous woman, whose demise triggers an investigation led by the bumbling police chief Wyatt Rash (played by Danny DeVito).

At its core, Drowning Mona attempts to blend dark humor with a murder mystery, offering a unique and offbeat take on the classic whodunit. However, despite its promising premise and talented cast, the film falls short in several aspects, resulting in a middling and uneven cinematic experience.

The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks, each recounting Mona’s interactions with the townspeople, showcasing just how universally disliked she was. Her relationships with her husband (played by William Fichtner), daughter (Neve Campbell), mechanic Bobby Calzone (Casey Affleck), and others are portrayed with disdain and resentment. The film sets up Mona’s murder as a catalyst for exploring the motives of various suspects, each with a potential reason to have wanted her dead.

Danny DeVito’s portrayal of Chief Wyatt Rash adds an element of slapstick comedy to the story. His ineptitude as an investigator becomes a running gag, with his attempts to solve the case often hindered by the town’s lack of cooperation due to their shared animosity towards the deceased Mona. Despite DeVito’s comedic prowess, the humor occasionally feels forced and fails to consistently hit the mark, leaving some scenes feeling contrived and predictable.

The film’s biggest flaw lies in its execution of the murder mystery. While the premise sets the stage for an intriguing whodunit, the storytelling lacks the necessary depth and complexity. The suspects’ motives are shallow and predictable, failing to engage the audience in genuine intrigue or suspense. The revelation of the killer lacks the impact and surprise one would expect from a well-crafted mystery, resulting in an underwhelming resolution that feels rushed and unsatisfying.

Moreover, the characters, though eccentric, lack depth and development, reducing them to caricatures that struggle to evoke empathy or investment from the audience. The talented ensemble cast’s performances feel underutilized, with most characters coming across as one-dimensional and lacking substantial arcs.

Despite its shortcomings, Drowning Mona does have some redeeming qualities. The film’s setting captures the essence of a small, quirky town, and the quirky nature of its inhabitants contributes to a whimsical atmosphere. Additionally, the comedic moments, though inconsistent, do occasionally land, eliciting genuine laughter through absurd situations and witty dialogue.

The cinematography and soundtrack add a quirky charm to the film, enhancing the offbeat tone intended by the filmmakers. The visual aesthetics effectively complement the eccentricities of the characters and the absurdity of the situations they find themselves in.

Drowning Mona presents an intriguing premise and a talented ensemble cast, but ultimately falls short in delivering a compelling and cohesive narrative. While it succeeds in creating a quirky atmosphere and eliciting sporadic laughs, its lack of depth in character development and the underwhelming execution of the murder mystery prevent it from reaching its full potential.