Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

A Manhattan housewife (Diane Keaton) becomes convinced her next door neighbor (Jerry Adler) has murdered his wife (Lynn Cohen). She enlists the help of her reluctant husband (Woody Allen), who doesn't believe her, in solving the case. But it soon becomes apparent that they are way over their heads as things go from bad to worse. Co-written (along with Marshall Brickman) and directed by Woody Allen. I'm a huge fan of comedy mysteries and Allen's film isn't unlike something Bob Hope might have done with Dorothy Lamour in the 1940s. But it takes awhile for the movie to get its rhythm going and I fear many might have given up by the time the movie finds its groove. Anjelica Huston in a low key performance as a writer who helps the couple crack the case makes a wonderful contrast to the excessive neuroticism of Allen, Keaton and Alan Alda as the fourth collaborator in solving the mystery. The film's finale, a homage to Orson Welles' LADY FROM SHANGHAI should delight film buffs. With Joy Behar, Zach Braff, Marge Redmond, Ron Rifkin and Melanie Norris.