Title: Death on the Nile
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Annette Bening
Runtime: 2 hr 7 mins

What It Is: Detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) is once again entangled in a murderous mystery. Newlywed couple Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer) and Linnet Ridgeway (Gadot) decide that a honeymoon on the water is probably best. Especially since Simon’s ex Jacqueline de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) has been stalking them throughout there’s wedding events. Now someone has died and the murderer is on board the boat. Too bad for them they’re stuck there with the great Hercule Poirot.

What We Think: Once again Branagh is brilliant as Hercule Poirot. Not just that though I think this script is as good as the previous one. Murder on the Orient Express was a great film with a stellar cast. This is no exception. A great cast centers on a fun script and the shockingly violent film. This was something I really enjoyed. Branagh’s brand of charisma when he’s rocking the Poirot stache. It all just sort of works in some subtle way. It isn’t the best mystery but it has a likable charm that makes it easy to get through.

Our Grade: B, A good sequel that doesn’t necessarily build off of the first film but instead builds with what was already established. There are some thing holding the film back, mostly the acting and that is a minority. Gal Gadot and Armie Hammer are absolutely atrocious here. To be fair there isn’t much you can expect from them at this point. This duo is a scourge on any good script they’re given and sadly this is another example of dragging down good material. This Michael Green screenplay is a good one and the tangled web that gets woven is really quite worth it.