Rating: ****
Review Date: 12/20/03
Cast: William Powell, Myrna Loy, Cesar Romero
An eccentric scientist disappears and foul play is suspected. A charming and quirky (and constantly drunk) ex-private detective named Nick Charles (delightful William Powell) gets caught up in the investigation and decides to solve it for fun more than anything else. While it's overly predictable, there are just enough twists, turns, and interesting characters to keep it exciting and fresh. The dialog and witty banter fly by at an alarming rate, which demands multiple viewings. The black and white cinematography is excellent, with bright highlights and deep, sharp shadows. William Powell is wonderful and Nick's wife (Myrna Loy) is absolutely gorgeous. Their charm and beauty is only compounded by their outrageously fun relationship dynamic, and she's easily as sharp (and drunk) as he is. A very fun and funny detective outing.