A Parkside Streaming Movie Review: Murderville (Netflix)

Will Arnett (Arrested Development) stars in Murderville, the American version of the British series, Murder in Successville. The show uses a combination of clever scripting and improvisation as a celebrity, who was not given a script, attempts to solve a murder mystery using the clues they gather as they play Will Arnett’s new partner.

As Detective Terry Seattle, Arnett guides each new partner as they investigate the murder scene and gather clues from three suspects to determine who they believe committed the murder. Arnett is joined by a talented cast of regulars as they tell the narrative that overarches the six episodes in this series.

The guest stars who portray Seattle’s partner are Conan O’Brien, Marshawn Lynch, Kumail Nanjiani, Annie Murphy, Sharon Stone, and Ken Jeong. For me, the standout star in this series is Marshawn Lynch, the former Seattle Seahawks running back who famously replied to every post-game interview question with, “I’m just here so I won’t get fined,” or something similar after being fined for refusing to speak to the media.

The show contains some language that would not be allowed during prime-time network shows, but I found it appropriate for my teens and we watched it as a family, one episode each day. It is repetitive enough that it may not be good for bingeing. We laughed a lot and enjoyed discussing the clues we were given along the way to see who could correctly identify the murderer.

Having been a fan of the British show, “Whose Line is It Anyway”, and the American version with Drew Carey, I eagerly anticipated the release of Murderville. Since watching it, I have recommended this show to my friends and am hopeful that Netflix will produce more episodes. And, while it was fun watching how mega-actress Sharon Stone handled the unpredictability of the show, some episodes fell flatter than others because not all celebrities are well-suited for improv. Calling Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady and Ryan Stiles!