Case Closed

How can you not like Byron Allen? No matter what project he is involved in, he certainly always seems to put his heart into it 100%.

While this may seem to be an unusual partnering of the young and (sometimes) over-enthusiastic (read overacting) Allen with the seasoned Durning, they both seem to have a pretty good time together and this makes for a very watchable film. The story revolves around an old unsolved diamond heist with Durning as the lead detective, now retired.

Allen drafts Durning back in action after a series of murders with a connection to this old case, hoping Durnings familiarity with the cold case might provide some spark to help solve it.

Allen provides good comic relief and delivers his lines (at least the funny ones)effectively. You don't need to be a master detective to figure this one out, but I would recommend it anyway.

"Case Closed" isn't very memorable but it's not a bad movie. The cast is likeable and that helps the movie out a lot. Byron Allen spends too much of the early part of the movie being a lesser version of Eddie Murphy but after a while he settles into play Byron Allen. He's okay in the movie. Charles Durning does a nice job in the movie. (Durning manages to get more laughs than comedian Allen.) The story of "Case Closed" isn't that strong. It's standard '80s tv action stuff. However, the stunt work is surprisingly strong. I kind of liked watching "Case Closed" but I won't remember seeing it in a few days. Honorable mention: a dreamy Erica Gimpel.

This film, obviously a TV pilot was shown the other night on a cable mystery channel. The film, while not completely bad, seems to need another writer since Byron Allen, its star, seems not to be objective about what we are seeing. Evidently, this was a serial that didn't make it as such.

As an action packed thriller, it has it's own good moments. Best of all is Charles Durning, a man who knows a lot about acting. He steals the movie as the retired Les Kabowski, who wants to cooperate with Det. Brockman, an eager man trying to solve an unsolved case. Both actors seem to have hit it off well, as it shows in the finished product.

Perhaps with another team doing the writing, this would have made a good series. Byron Allen proves he has what it takes to be entertaining, if at times he appears too eager to please. The action is well paced and keep us interested in what's being presented.

Better luck next time.