Revivals often invoke nostalgia for the bygone series, if enough time has passed. It’s been 14 years since “Monk” (2002-09, USA) ended its run as one of the most pleasant murder-mysteries of the Aughts (usually a howcatchem, but sometimes a whodunit, or both).
What’s most striking out of the gates about “Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie” (Peacock, which is also home to the series) is that it seems like no time has passed. Sure, the characters look a little older, and we’re updated on their new life situations. But if “Monk” was a product of the Aughts, it’s not stuck in the Aughts, and I’m now hoping for more TV movies in the vein of what “Columbo” used to do.
In an early flashback, we see how Monk (Tony Shalhoub, sliding right back into his most famous role as the OCD detective) was hit hard by COVID. He may have been more suited to the pandemic than the average person, but it only pushed him further into his shell and made him more anxious and depressed.
“Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie” (2023)
Director: Randy Zisk
Writer: Andy Breckman
Stars: Tony Shalhoub, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine
Natalie (Traylor Howard) notes that “They’re all like you,” pointing out how everyone is using disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. Monk responds: “They won’t like it.”
More about mental health
The second striking thing is that “Mr. Monk’s Last Case,” confidently written and directed by series veterans Andy Breckman and Randy Zisk, openly examines mental health disorders and suicide. Monk makes these issues personal and powerful, and the movie (essentially a two-part episode) even earns spiritual elements in the final act.
The expected reunion scenes are in place, but never for the sake of showing them off; because Monk is learning what everyone has been up to, so are we. Natalie and Randy (Jason Gray-Stanford) meet Monk and his stepdaughter Molly (Caitlin McGee) (introduced in the final season) at the San Francisco airport, having been invited to Molly’s wedding.
Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine) and Dr. Bell (Hector Elizondo) show up later. While this isn’t a total reunion of the old cast, it’s full enough that the movie doesn’t feel lacking.
Characters before mystery
Despite very much putting the characters first, “Last Case” does have a decent mystery. Breckman and Zisk pump it up in visual scope, with the main suspect – the founder of Amazon-like company Eden (James Purefoy) – preparing to be the first civilian to orbit the Earth. Yet it has a down-to-earth solution.
There are minor brushed-over questions (How does the killer create a key tool in the crime?) and conveniences (Why would someone so powerful be so transparent in his murderous moves?). But these things have always been a part of “Monk,” and always deftly dodged by character moments and humor.
“Last Case” still uses the show’s trademark humor – we laugh at Monk’s OCD behavior – even though you’d think 2023 P.C. culture would tell us that’s not allowed anymore. Breckman and Zisk don’t subscribe to that. We’re still allowed to chuckle at Monk because we – like everyone in his life – love and appreciate him as an idiosyncratic person with remarkable detective skills.
We can’t watch new episodes of “Monk” weekly anymore, but it’s been long enough that I’ve forgotten all the episodes’ details and a rewatch would feel fresh. “Mr. Monk’s Last Case” affirms that “Monk” hit such a timeless sweet spot of light but heartfelt case-cracking that it will always be refreshing.