by Foster Harlfinger, Contributing Writer

Between shows like Breaking Bad, Deadwood, and The Sopranos getting their own television movies in the last five years, and the steadfastly loyal fanbase for mid-2000s USA network shows like Psych, it was only a matter of time before Monk followed suit with a film of its own.

For a show that feels very much of its time — it has been 14 years since Monk aired its season finale in December 2009 — Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie strikes a surprisingly confident balance between its original comedic sensibilities and post-pandemic storyline. 

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise, considering the role garnered Tony Shalhoub a collective 22 Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe nominations and six wins, but the man has not missed a beat. As with the show, Mr. Monk’s Last Case perfectly portrays Adrian Monk’s obsessive compulsive disorder in a way that respects the painful reality of his affliction, without ever losing its lovingly comedic touch.

An unabashed love letter to fans, Mr. Monk’s Last Case remains true to its characters, while offering a plausible explanation for where they might be after the events of the show. As Shalhoub and company have noted, Adrian’s compulsive tendencies feel less outlandish and far more relatable in our post-pandemic world. Gratefully, the film does not dwell on the effects of the pandemic beyond its opening 10 minutes, but its unexpectedly emotional final scene hits home precisely because of the cynical and hopeless mentality we have grown accustomed to these last few years.

The film opens to find Adrian despondent over his book publisher’s rejection of his manuscript — he had hoped to use his earnings to pay for the wedding of his step-daughter, Molly (Caitlin McGee), his closest surviving connection to his deceased wife, Trudy (Melora Hardin). Of course, given all the mystery genre trappings which Monk so earnestly embraces, Adrian’s lost book deal will not be the only thing to prevent Molly’s wedding from happening. Griffin (Austin Scott), Molly’s husband-to-be, finds himself the victim of a conspicuously timed bungee jumping accident. Suspicions abound, especially as it pertains to Griffin’s egomaniacal billionaire boss, Rick Eden (James Purefoy), and Mr. Monk finds himself on the case in no time.

If one were to view Mr. Monk’s Last Case as an ordinary episode of the show, it is hard to say that it would place particularly high on a conventional episode ranking. The central mystery feels uninspired, and the modern digital cinematography lacks the warmth of the original show. Given our post-Knives Out mystery renaissance age, the film had much to gain from the prospect of a genuinely stirring Adrian Monk mystery. It is not difficult to recall several dozen individual cases from the show with greater intrigue and creativity and more memorable guest parts.

That said, it is difficult to criticize Mr. Monk’s Last Case when the movie’s priorities so clearly lie with reuniting its central characters in a largely successful nostalgia fest. From Ted Levine’s crotchety Stottlemeyer to Hector Elizondo’s uncharacteristically warm Dr. Bell, the enthusiasm from the entire cast is infectious. Whether it be Adrian calling for his assistant Natalie (Traylor Howard) to “Amputate!” after stepping in dog poop or Randy’s (Jason Gray-Stanford) hilarious posturing in any given scene, simply existing with these characters remains such a consistent delight.

While the film may not break any new ground when it comes to the mystery genre, it is easy to be moved by its sincere approach. Shalhoub’s performance remains as watchable as ever, and the cast seem nimble and willing enough — gray hairs and all — to continue the storyline for any potential future films. For a show that is so beloved by a particular era of TV-watchers, Mr. Monk’s Last Case will stand as an imperfect but welcome return to a world that had been deeply missed for 14 years. 

Rating: Liked It

Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie is currently streaming on Peacock


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