An insipid murder mystery

‘Reunion’, a murder mystery set against the backdrop of a high school get-together, is at best a one-time watch. The batch is meeting 20 years after the school got over, but the celebrations go awry following the murder of the host in a snowbound home.

Under the lens of suspicion are old classmates from the 2001 batch of Ridgeview High School, who stayed back after an evening of fun and frolic.

The film opens slowly. The first half an hour is centred on the introduction of myriad moods of the colourful cast. The window of the plot begins to roll down after the murder of the host (Chace Crawford). With no trace of any outsiders entering the house, the murderer is likely roaming among those inside. To top it, all communication channels, including mobile connections, are snapped.

Youthful misdemeanours make for gleeful watching, but wait, a classmate who was hiding in the closet after a naughty fling with the host is soon dead too! More plot twists unfold amid a series of confusions and the rekindling of old crushes lends fuel to the fire.

Most people have left by the time the murder is discovered by Jamie Chung, who works for a newspaper. Also sticking around is Ray Hammond, an old waggish teacher visiting Crawford, despite having lost his investments following an ill-advise. Adding spice to the plot is Nina Dobrev, who is attempting a hand at politics. Lil Rel Howery tries to unravel the mystery, but the thin storyline gives him little scope for an unforgettable performance.

All the characters, with their own mannerisms, stand out, but don’t gel with others to lend a composite grace to the overall performance. Comedy dominates this whodunit and is definitely the lifeline of this story with a predictable ending.

Cinematography, usually a very important component of a murder mystery, is as uninspiring as the film’s music.

‘Reunion’ is very much an average offering.