Murder She Purred

Platform: DVD

Director: Simon Wincer

Release Year: 1998

Watch Date: April 27, 2021

My Rating: 9.2

I suppose at some point I should do a post about my ratings scale. You’re probably thinking “woah this must be an amazing movie with awesome effects.” It’s not. Don’t get me wrong, it is an amazing movie, but not because it has sweeping cinematography, great visuals, and a star studded cast. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The setting of rural Virginia is breathtaking, but the shots are simple. The most daring thing that happens is Ricki Lake diving into a lake (hehe) and looking in the car that’s there (I guess the horse riding during the “hunt” is daring too). There are no special visual effects. The cast isn’t full of million dollar movie stars.

What this movie has, is a well written script, a witty cat, a bad ass postmistress, and a hodgepodge of quirky townsfolk. The mystery is intriguing, the characters are endearing, and let me reiterate….bad ass postmistress. “Harry” is a divorced (her ex husband’s current lady is named Boom-Boom 😂), horseback riding, self sufficient, axe grinding, sassy bundle of fabulousness with a nose for mystery. She gets a secretive new neighbor just before the greedy banker winds up dead. While Harry is trying to figure out the mystery so are Mrs. Murphy the cat and Tucker the dog (they make the movie even more fun!).

Throw in southern hospitality, small town nosey neighbors, a sheriff on a diet (and his sassy deputy who is another bad ass lady), old money, stolen identities, and an old fashioned east coast fox hunt and what you end up with is 1 hour and 28 minutes of delightful entertainment. So why the 9.2? Sometimes it’s the simple movies that are the great movies. When there is a great script, great casting, and genuine emotion it’s hard not consider a movie great. So, 9.2 it is.

I am always willing to watch this movie.

Photo Credit: imdb.com