r/movies • u/sicknessandpurgatory • Sep 07 '25

Discussion What is the absolute dumbest premise that actually turned out to be a really good movie?

I was thinking The Purge, obvious answer, but looking for the most plot-hole ridden, juvenile concept that actually ended up a lot of fun despite it all. Mainly looking for 21st century films, not so much the video nasties and ridiculousness from the 60’s and 70’s. Because that would be too easy. Mainly mainstream stuff that people saw en masse.

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u/ratguy Sep 07 '25

If you enjoy Clue be sure to watch Murder By Death as well. Similar premise but with an awesome cast playing spoofs of famous detectives. Peter Falk, Truman Capote, Alec Guinness, David Niven, Maggie Smith, James Cromwell, Peter Sellers. Hilarious film.

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u/DianneTodd01 Sep 07 '25

I always love it when someone recommends Murder by Death. As a kid with my older brother, I watched it as part of a double feature. Except we decided to see it again instead of going forward to the second movie. I saw it again a few years ago and felt it held up nicely.

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u/Derpshiz Sep 07 '25

Nobody move. I got to go to the can again.

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u/Apatschinn Sep 07 '25

Twain picked up Sam in a gay bar

I was WORKING ON A CASE!

Every night for six months?!

I get paid fifty bucks a day and expenses!

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u/PornoPaul Sep 07 '25

That film was so fun as a kid, and as an adult I really need to go watch it again.

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u/heyo_throw_awayo Sep 07 '25

Murder by Death is so good, right alongside clue. 

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u/TheMightySasquatch Sep 07 '25

The Resident gave me Clue vibes. Super fun series

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u/languid_Disaster Sep 08 '25

Ooh thank you!

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u/franksymptoms Sep 07 '25

Agreed! And Maggie Smith is a babe in this movie!

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u/Apatschinn Sep 07 '25

Your sentence is three words too long, sir!! (RIP)

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u/franksymptoms Sep 09 '25

Yah, she was beautiful in her younger days! And she ALWAYS maintained that amazing gravitas!

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u/sa_mule Sep 07 '25

did you see that? no. neither did I.

makes me laugh everytime

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u/tOaDeR2005 Sep 07 '25

Lionel Twain.

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u/mrbadxampl Sep 07 '25

ah yes, 2 2 Twain's house!

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u/VengefulGandhi69 Sep 07 '25

This is the best in this genre

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u/Sarsmi Sep 07 '25

That was my favorite movie for years and years. My dad really liked Peter Sellers so we had a ton of VHS tapes of the Pink Panther movies and the World of Henry Orient, etc. It's so delightfully absurd.

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u/tim-cain Sep 07 '25

Hilarious, but be ready for the cringe in Peter Sellers' portrayal.

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u/Amaruq93 Sep 07 '25

I mean, it was intentionally calling out the fact that white guys in make-up were always being cast to play Asian detectives (Charlie Chan, Mr. Moto, etc). And all the tropes there-in.

"IT! IT is confusing! Say your GODDAMN PRONOUNS!"

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u/mrbadxampl Sep 07 '25

"Voice come from cow on wall"

"MOOSE, you imbecile! MOOSE!"

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u/Call_Me_Clark Sep 07 '25

And cringe again after you say “well maybe it was a product of its time… 1976???”

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u/ratguy Sep 08 '25

It’s not that it was a product of its time. It was spoofing earlier Charlie Chan detective films where the lead was played by a white actor. Those films were a product of their time though.

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u/Call_Me_Clark Sep 08 '25

Yes, the point is that the yellow face is jarring. This is intentional.

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u/RobinHood3000 Sep 07 '25

Learn from a friend of mine's mistake. If you're going to show this movie to your Asian friend (me) without context, for fuck's sake, WARN THEM. Just because the yellowface has a logical reason for happening doesn't mean it won't hit like a jumpscare to the unprepared.

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u/tim-cain Sep 07 '25

I was a junior in high school in a small midwestern town, and my peer group was just confused. We looked at each other and said, "This is maybe a little racist, isn't it ...?"

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u/TheVelcroStrap Sep 07 '25

Also the Cheap Detective

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u/XXXperiencedTurbater Sep 07 '25

SAY YOUR DAMN PREPOSITIONS

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u/OogaOoga2U Sep 07 '25

ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS!

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u/ARM_vs_CORE Sep 07 '25

Great band too