Drowning Mona

Drowning Mona's premise is the stuff of silly high-concept comedy: a small town police chief (Danny DeVito) investigates when the most hated woman in town (Bette Midler) dies mysteriously, discovering (naturally) that virtually everyone in town had a motive for slaying her. The goal here would seem to be a broad, dark comedy combining DeVito's twisted sensibilities and Midler at her most obnoxious into a shopworn favorite--the everybodydunnit--a kind of Throw the Ruthless People from the Orient Express, if you will. Ironically, the broad, dark comedy is far and away the least interesting thing about a film that, at its best, provides a showcase for the sort of giddy, utterly unexpected moments that can make a devotee of great film writing swoon (Example: A suicidal man's demand to DeVito's police chief, "Don't come any closer, sheriff" is greeted by another officer's insistent plea, "Wait! Wait! Wait! He's not a sheriff!"). Unfortunately, by the time Peter Steinfeld's script rolls around to its final half hour, the film has lost a lot of the bounce in its step, tossing out much of the subversive humor for chases and exposition. Still, this film, which is as smart and weird as it is big and dumb, is recommended, with reservations. (S. Renshaw)