In 1985, nobody thought that an ultra-lightweight comedy based on a board game would be a top cult movie a few decades later. The only thing worse than this film’s reviews was its poor box office showing. Who killed Mr. Boddy? Who cares? Over time though—and constant exposure on cable TV for years afterward—Clue acquired a fierce following who can recite every line.
It’s not a great movie. It barely tops Mel Brooks at his worst. What it brings is charm and sometimes that’s enough. There’s not one serious moment in it. Turn your brain right off. It’s comedy comfort food. This is the kind of film that’s not above a running gag based on an actress’s big breasts (you can’t miss Colleen Camp as the voluptuous French maid, who’s probably responsible for catching the eye of many channel surfers over the years). It also brings a cast of solid comedy veterans, each of whom has a distinct character to play. Tim Curry as the shifty, yet campy, butler wins the pivotal part, but no one else gets short shrift. Martin Mull gets to be pompous, Lesley Ann Warren gets to be sexy, Eileen Brennan gets to be shrill, Michael McKean gets to be fey and so on.
It’s a murder mystery—set in a classic 1950s manor on a stormy night—that cares so little about its puzzle that it has three different resolutions, all told in frantic fashion. In its original release, different theaters got a different ending while TV showings and video releases tacked on all three and easily played that off as another joke.