Murder 101 (2006)
When a local successful executive is murdered in an explosion at his mansion, suspicions point to an attractive female investigative reporter who was close to the man and working undercover on a story about corporate scandal. Brought in by the police to help solve the crime, Dr. Maxwell has a mind that outwits the apparent. He throws himself into a world of corporate schemes to uncover a long list of hard-nosed men and women with big-money motives for murder.
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Highly Overrated But Still Good
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Those stars of course being Father and Son double act Dick and Barry Van Dyke, So, if like me, you enjoyed 'Diagnosis Murder' or really any other mystery series such as Perry Mason or Murder she wrote, I'm sure you'll enjoy this TVM, the first of 4 to date.Dick van Dyke plays Dr Mark Slo...I mean Dr Jonathan Maxwell, a rather forgetful Professor of Criminology, a role which isn't a world away from his former character on 'DM', and Barry van Dyke is Steve Slo... I mean Mike Bryant an Ex-cop turned Private Eye, They aren't father and son this time, but friends who have known each other for over 30 years and end up working together on cases, this one being of an mysterious explosion which killed a CEO of a thought-to-be successful company which could be in financial difficulty and try to clear the name of woman who was last seen arguing with the deceased.Like I said if you've seen the aforementioned series' above you'll know what to expect, and although It has a similar feel to other Hallmark Channel productions of late such as 'Mystery Woman', 'Jane Doe' & 'Mcbride' the inclusion of the Van Dyke's lift this above most of them in terms of quality.
Nothing with Dick Van Dyke can be that bad, but this movie does not live up to the Diagnosis Murder television series. Mr. Van Dyke deserves better projects than this. Also, how come this is Barry Van Dyke's first acting role since DM? While he's now Dick Van Dyke, he isn't that bad. Can't he get roles, other than what his father is involved in? Don't expect "The Dick Van Dyke Show", or "DM", but Dick Van Dyke is enjoyable as usual. The story's not that great, but entertaining enough. Also, I'm wondering when the next one is coming out, I heard that there would be more. I'd certainly like to see more if more are coming.
This was essentially a remake of "Diagnosis Murder" minus Victoria Rowell, Scott Baio & Charlie Schlatter. Dick is playing a college professor who teaches Criminology 101 and can't even find his own classroom. Barry is now a private eye, not related to Dick. This lets Barry shoot at guys speeding away from him, which a cop can not do. Barry still gets the girl in the end. Tracey Needham portrays the girl. She is the prime suspect and Dick and Barry believe she's innocent and prove it. That's all the spoiler you get. The ending is sufficiently unexpected that you don't already know it half way through the movie.Don't take it seriously. Don't critique it. Just sit back and enjoy Dick and Barry Van Dyke.
If you enjoyed the TV Series, Diagnosis Murder, you'll love Murder 101. It's great to see Dick Van Dyke in a murder mystery again. If we're lucky, this one will be a start of a TV series or at least series of movies.This movie definitely had some great and notable actors filling the roles. But, it didn't feel like a "face" movie. It was really a story that drew you in making you forget about the fame of those on the screen.I made a guess as to the ending and was so pleasantly surprised at the end that I had to watch it again! This is a must see for any mystery buff or Dick Van Dyke lover!