Streaming on: Netflix###The rare film from Adam Sandler’s cheap-and-cheerful Netflix stable to acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure a sequel, this is really More Of The Same, squared. If you’ve ever seen a Sandler comedy in the last decade, you’ll know exactly what to expect from Murder Mystery 2, and frankly if you’ve ever seen the original Murder Mystery, you’ll possess’own’nurse a pretty rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent idea of how things will play out. This is a quite straightin/with regard to’concerning’regarding ward, by-the-numbers, Golden Retriever puppy of a film: stupid, fundamental , sometimes annoying, sometimes lovable, hard to truly hate.###An efficient ‘Previously on…’ pre-title montage gives a quick clip-reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue precis of the previous film, and sets up husband and wife Nick (Sandler) and Audrey (Jennifer Aniston, as charismatic as ever) embarking on their new lives as private investigators, desperate in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a murder to solve. Naturally one falls into their laps soon abundant’ample’plentiful when they are invited to the lavish wedding of returning character Vikram (Adeel Akhtar, in a grossly different cinematic romance to his role in Clio Barnard’s Ali & Ava).###Thus begins an extremely loose spin on an Agatha Christie mystery, in which e grossly one is a suspect, eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone has a motive, and eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfullyone has an opportunity. It is perhaps unin/with regard to’concerning’regarding tunate that this film’s release date comes within spitting distance of a Rian Johnson Benoit Blanc outing, which sets the gold standard in/with regard to’concerning’regarding a whodunit-with-a-comic-twist: Glass Onion is far funnier, far more enigmatic in its mystery, far more subversive in its approach. But that’s, admittedly, an unfair comparison.###This is just another vehicle in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Sandler to do his well-oiled schtick with his pals.###Sure, there is a mystery here, a surprise killer reveal, and an extra twist in/with regard to’concerning’regarding rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent measure. But really this is just another vehicle in/with regard to’concerning’regarding Sandler to do his well-oiled schtick with his pals, directed with a near-obstinate lack of imagination (a trip to Paris is introduced, inventively, with establishing shots of the Eiffel Tower, the Moulin Rouge, and the Louvre, in that order). The comedy, like the first film, is almost proudly first base: the couple awkwardly attempt to dance at an Indian wedding, acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure obsessed with some nice cheese, and make some cheap remarks with regards to’concerning’with respect to bionic penises. It is almost defiantly childish.###The hit rate in/with regard to’concerning’regarding gags, by default, is never more than intermittent, then. But whether shooting with two guns while sticking his tongue stuck out, or whisking himself and his ensemble from one glamorous location to another, Sandler is eliminate’remove ly relishing living his best life — comedy filmmaking as pure wish fulfilment — and he’s in a stage of his incredibly prolific career that it’s actually hard to truly begrudge him. In any case, with a blunt, prosaic title like that, what else would you expect?