Drowning Mona

Drowning Mona is an enigmatic dark comedy-whodunit from 2000 that stars Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Neve Campbell in its ensemble cast. Director Nick Gomez manages to weave together an intriguing murder mystery, loaded with a generous dash of humor, irony, and absurdity that leaves audiences enthralled from the start till the end.

The story revolves around a rural town named Verplanck, New York, that boasts the unique claim to fame of being the first community to "go Yugo" (a very small, cheap car from the '80s), providing an interesting backdrop for the narrative.

The title character, Mona Dearly (Bette Midler) is the quintessential small-town nuisance - boorishly loud, foul-tempered and disliked by everyone. Midler delivers a performance as a brusque, abrasive woman with no apparent redeeming qualities, firmly establishing her character as one viewers love to hate.

What sparks the twisted fun in this black comedy is Mona's sudden, inexplicable death. After driving her son's Yugo into the Hudson River, the townsfolk are more jubilant than grief-stricken, leading the local sheriff to suspect foul play. This duty falls into the hands of the town's patient Chief of Police, Wyatt Rash (Danny DeVito), who is an honest, hardworking man dedicated to his job. DeVito excels as the tough yet tender-hearted policeman who has to unravel the peculiarities of Verplanck's inhabitants during his investigation.

Among the main suspects is Mona's long-suffering landscaper husband, Phil Dearly (William Fichtner), who's linked romantically to Rona (Jamie Lee Curtis). Also under the radar is her dimwit son Jeff (Marcus Thomas) and his business partner Bobby Calzone (Casey Affleck), the latter of whom also happens to be engaged to Rash's daughter, Ellen (Neve Campbell).

Campbell's character, Ellen, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. As Sheriff Rash's daughter, she battles typical small-town pressures and familial expectations. Campbell portrays a young woman who is both parts despising and loving the peculiarities of her town and its people.

As the mystery unfolds, viewers are taken on a bizarre, hilarious journey through a quirky small town filled with oddball characters, further intensifying the peculiar charm of Drowning Mona. Whilst intriguingly humorous, the film also touches upon human relationships, betrayal, ambition, and the lengths people can go to conceal the truth.

While it is essentially a comedy, "Drowning Mona" leaps beyond the conventional bounds of the genre. It paints a vivid portrait of exaggerated small-town life and its eccentric dwellers while keeping audiences gripped with its murder-mystery plot. Gomez, with an artful grasp over the comedic and dramatic elements, pushes the envelope by exploring themes of family, love, alliances, corruption, and of course, secrets. Truly, the wonder of Verplanck is not just its exclusive fleet of Yugo cars but the idiosyncratic community that drives them.

Drowning Mona is bolstered by its star-studded cast, delivering uniquely remarkable performances brimming with eccentricities. Bette Midler as the caustic Mona, Danny DeVito as the compassionate police chief, and Neve Campbell as the skeptical small-town girl, all bring depth and vibrancy to their roles. The supporting cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis and Casey Affleck, each contribute to the film's charm with their skillful performances that are equally comical and complex.

The film engages not only with its interesting storyline but also with its multi-faceted characters and their nuanced connections that weave its narrative tapestry. These qualities invite audiences to ponder the curious world depicted within, long after the credits roll.

Marshal Chupa's cinematography plays a significant role in establishing the film's whimsical aesthetic. The bold use of color, along with the peculiar charm of the Yugo-filled town, successfully creates an atmospheric background that further accentuates the storyline's hilarity and drama.

With its blend of dark comedy and murder mystery, Drowning Mona is an intriguing watch that skillfully juggles humor and suspense, maintaining the audience's engagement throughout. The movie explores human nature's darker quirks while unwrapping a murder mystery that keeps us chuckling till the very end. It's a hilarious, unconventional, and absurd take on the whodunit formula, with an extraordinary ensemble all chipping in to make the madness work. If you're a fan of quirky, satirical comedies, then Drowning Mona, in its own peculiar way, is a must-watch.