Movie review - Maggie Moore(s)

Maggie Moore(s) **** (out of 5) (R) Fans of quirky, darkly comedic murder mysteries should find this descendant of films like Fargo and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri right in their wheelhouse. In a small town that sees little crime, Police Chief Jon Hamm and his semi-useful deputy (British comedian Nick Mohammed) find the body of a young woman named Maggie Moore. Her husband is grieving, but it’s not clear if he’s sincere. Before they can solve that crime, another Maggie Moore turns up dead. Her husband also seems suspicious, though for completely different reasons. The two women didn’t know each other, or have any identifiable connection, but Hamm suspects the killings of blond Maggie and brunette Maggie are somehow intertwined.

As the investigation begins, the neighbor (Tina Fey) of Maggie #1 proves to be a useful source of information for Hamm, and potentially more. Viewers are shown much of the machinations behind the deaths, so the mystery isn’t about whodunnit, but whether and how Hamm will solve the cases. The course does not go smoothly for the chief, but it does unfold delightfully for the viewer, with wry wit and several surprises along the way.

John Slattery, who co-starred with St. Louis native Hamm in Mad Men and directed five of its episodes, does a fine job behind the cameras here – especially for one whose long career has been spent almost entirely in front of them. The town looks quiet and anonymous, giving this an anywhere non-urban feel that suits the material. The action shifts among the moving pieces in this mini-crime wave effectively for both clarity and humor, with a running time that’s perfect for the tale being told. The foibles of the characters are given room to develop, maintaining that delicately balanced tone of wryness without giving in to zany. Though Fey is only credited as a supporting actress here, veteran screenwriter Paul Bernbaum seems to have been channeling her sensibilities as he crafted his script.

Hamm’s performance is superb in a role that makes his matinee-idol looks a non-factor, boding well for his career longevity. His character is a widower, awkwardly and reluctantly beginning to move on with his personal life just when he gets smacked with his biggest work-related challenges. Mohammed is about as helpful in both regards as Barney Fife was for Sheriff Andy, though his bumbling is more verbal and less physical. Several scenes between Hamm and Fey are superbly written and executed. Many of the cast members contribute to the humorous aspects of the package en route to a very satisfying climax.

(Maggie Moore(s) opens in theaters and On Demand 6/16/23)