Mystery Team

You have to see this movie.

"Mystery Team" is a parody of a phenomenon that was never itself a film: The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and especially Encyclopedia Brown.

They manage to walk the line -- like the first Austin Powers film -- so that it's neither too wacky so you can't believe it and don't care about the characters, but not too boring that it's not full of subtle interplay.

The main gag is the innocence of the boys, who are thrust into adult situations continually. It's all about the acting in this film, and kudos especially to "Donald Glover". Dressing like an outrageous hobo, for example, could come across as really stupid in a film with Jim Carrey or Rob Schneider, who play up their roles too much. Donald manages to do it consistently.

On top of that, there are a several delightful plot twists that you won't see coming. The film tries to balance the boys basically being incompetent with allowing them to succeed in a way that isn't too corny.

It's laugh-out-loud funny throughout, a genuine must-see if you like intelligent edgy comedies. Note, it's not really meant to be a kids film. There's a lot of raunchy humor.

I'll give Mystery Team a well-earned 9 out of 10. It just missed a 10 because the ending was good but not quite a classic.

Not sure why some people hate the movie so much. Of course this isn't a family film and the movie is not to be taken so seriously. I suppose that a movie can't please everyone. I for one am a fan of Derrick Comedy and this was good time spent. I hadn't laughed from a movie as much as I have after watching this one. Although I did feel that one of the main three characters was left out, it actually portrayed what the character's personality was. The first couple of minutes didn't make the movie seem that great, but as the story progresses, it gets better. As for the plot itself, it's not what makes the movie good. This movie is a comedy, and for what comedies do, it was spot on. In the end it's going to be up to you to decide whether you like it or not, but I for one recommend it. Maybe it's because of all the hours I've been awake so far, but I was laughing the whole way through.

'Mystery Team' is a quirky little marvel. A concept that makes much more sense as a 10-minute comedy sketch is stretched into a 90-minute feature film and only really has one joke, but somehow it works.

That speaks to the talent of creative minds behind the project. They manage to take a marginally funny idea that becomes stale rather quickly, and somehow, they will this whole vehicle to keep trudging forward. Like MacGyver rigging up the device he needs out of whatever is laying around, the guys from Derrick Comedy enthusiastically squeeze the last drop out of everything at their disposal and get the job done.

The plot: three best friends work as detectives, calling themselves The Mystery team. For a hefty fee of a dime, the group will take on any case that comes their way, which is typically limited to the petty misdeeds of seven-year-olds. The team's exploits were charming when they were also seven, but they're now high school seniors, and their behavior makes them outcasts among their peers (but greatly amusing to movie viewers).

That's the primary joke of the movie-these kids are too old for this stuff. They're awkward and immature. They still think girls are icky. There isn't much to the bit, but the filmmakers have an advanced sense of when to smartly weave in secondary story elements and hilarious supporting characters to keep things entertaining. All the actors appear very aware of what movie they're in. They play their parts without an ounce of self-doubt and just the right level of cheesiness.

It becomes apparent very quickly that while the movie is dumb, it's made by smart people. It leans into its own absurdity. The actors are playing 18-year-olds but look 25 and act like they're seven. The Mystery Team members behave as if they're in a G movie despite all the debauchery from everything and everyone around them being decidedly hard R.

The silly, small-scale hijinks is given reason to become a full-length movie when a sad little girl asks The Mystery Team to solve her parents' murder, and they find themselves involved for the first time in a very adult case. Relying on their usual tactics and disguises, they manage to make impressive progress on the mystery, despite looking ridiculous every step of the way.

That's part of the brilliance of this movie. It's ridiculous because the characters are ridiculous, and it knows that. Many of jokes don't land because they aren't meant to. They're meant to emphasize how goofy and awkward these wannabe detectives are in every human interaction.

It's obvious from watching this film that the creative team members were capable of more. Glover became a superstar and the other members of Derrick Comedy all found their niche in writing or performing. Many of the supporting actors also landed more lucrative roles in movies or TV.

This is by no means a classic. The stars may look back on this and cringe, but they shouldn't. It's a better movie than most will give it credit for, and it's the one that will live on as what was a sign of greater things to come for this talented ensemble.

man, after the DVD came out the rating here went way down, I don't think many people who saw this movie knew anything about Derrick Comedy or just missed the point of it all together.

this isn't a family movie, the R rating should tell you that from the get go. It's a movie about 3 losers who have been solving mysteries since they were kids, but get thrown into reality when they decide to take on the ridiculous case of solving a murder. The three guys from Derrick Comedy are hysterical..every line they say is so silly and ridiculous..and the antics they get into...you'll either be amused by it or totally hate it.

Also, this movie is very similar to what you see in Derrick Comedy's skits. That same humor and silliness in the skits is in this movie...

you'll either love it or hate it. as a fan of the guys of Derrick Comedy I thought it was hilarious and just enjoyed it for what it was; but I think some people might miss the boat on this one.

The very premise sounds so promising, not least with Donald Glover involved, and as soon as we start watching our hopes are borne out. I'm not familiar with Derrick Comedy, but Glover, DC Pierson, Dominic Dierkes, and Dan Eckman have created a wonderfully silly, fun mystery comedy that serves up hearty laughs from the moment it begins. Cheekily twisting up the childish play of "boy detectives" with very adult scenarios (sex, nudity, murder, swear swords), and teenagers who remain trapped in a hopelessly naïve , innocent mindset, results in a steady stream of playful ridiculousness. More than that, the troupe plays fast and loose with every conceivable facet of the characters, dialogue, scene writing, and narrative, making every excuse for costume changes, simple-minded misunderstandings of the most mundane aspects of the modern world, and in contrast, sudden swerves to very mature subject matter and violence. I expected I'd enjoy this and I'm not disappointed; 'Mystery Team' is a blast!

The narrative at large is surprisingly solid, if admittedly nothing we wouldn't seen in the average Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew novel, or an episode of 'Murder, she wrote.' That recognizable bent is part of the charm, though, and anyway, the picture is built purely for fun in the first place; along the way there are some select moments that are kind of brilliant. I won't say that it's altogether perfect, as the plot follows an arc that couldn't possibly be more tried and true. Moreover, as the flick shifts from the arrested development of principals Jason, Duncan, and Charlie to the more earnest, adult-oriented sequences there are surely some tonal issues on hand, and I'd also say that in and of themselves some of the sleazier inclusions are maybe a step too far outside the bounds of the scenario the feature has devised. To that same end, while it's part and parcel of the dichotomy of "boy detectives in an adult world," it's worth noting some less welcome language in the dialogue including homophobia and ableism. Yet no matter how severely one may view such matters, or how wide the swings in tone, the fact remains that 'Mystery Team' wants only to entertain, and it's so reliably witty that it's wonderfully funny from the very beginning through to the very end.

All eyes are on Glover here first and foremost, for every reason, and the wild energy he gives Jason reminds of Troy Barnes in 'Community' taken to an even greater level. He's handily matched, though by Pierson and Dierkes as they round out the titular trio, and that's not to count out anyone else involved; among so many others, it's always a joy to see Aubrey Plaza anywhere, and even in her full-length movie debut she's terrific in her supporting part. Those stunts and effects that are employed look great, Eckman's direction is very capable, and in all other ways this is very well made. The key remains the humor, though, and between the screenplay and the acting that brings it to life, there are very few moments that aren't delightful. Particular with the excessive extremity of some of the adult-oriented subject matter this won't appeal to all comers; for that matter, some of the comedy is a tad, well, juvenile, beyond even the scope of the premise. It's not wholly flawless. Any reasonable criticisms to be made are far outweighed by the value the film has to offer, however, and I think most viewers would surely have a good time here to one degree or another. It may not be a total must-see, but all the way through 'Mystery Team' is a joy, and if you're seeking something light to put a smile on your face it's hard to go wrong here!