The Final Enigma of Mr Monk: An Unseen Side of the Beloved Detective

Mr. Adrian Monk, played once again by Tony Shalhoub, makes his much-anticipated return in Mr. Monk’s Last Case. This final murder mystery hits close to home for the beloved detective, offering die-hard fans a new perspective on their favorite character.

Devoted Monk fans have been eagerly awaiting the San Francisco detective’s comeback, 14 years after the finale episode where he finally cracked the case of Trudy’s murder. With the revelation that Trudy’s daughter was alive, Monk was able to find closure and move forward from the overwhelming guilt he had carried for so long.

In "Mr. Monk's Last Case," the character returns to a post-pandemic world with only Molly (Caitlin McGee) and Dr. Bell left to care for him. When tragedy strikes, he finds himself back in the saddle, solving a homicide case that deeply affects Molly. Dexerto's review of the film explores familiar characters, key details, and whether Monk remains true to the character audiences remember.

A new murder mystery has Monk looking back at his life

The movie takes place after the pandemic, with everyone now resembling their own version of Monk. The pandemic has affected Monk in new, darker ways, adding another layer to his well-known OCD tendencies, germaphobia, and social difficulties. Despite his strategic and intelligent mind, he continues to struggle with guilt over Trudy’s death.

In Mr. Monk’s Last Case, audiences will be surprised by how familiar yet different Monk has become. Despite moving on, Trudy reappears in a new and unexpected way. Once again, Monk faces an internal battle.

In the midst of his personal journey, there is, of course, a murder case. With Molly in his life, Monk is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his last connection to Trudy satisfied. But tragedy strikes when Molly's fiancé is murdered, and Monk must solve the case and reveal the truth. The solving of the murder is a blast from the past, with familiar faces like Natalie Teeger, Randy Disher, and Leland Stottlemeyer coming together to help their friend make things right for Molly. The reunion of the group brings much-needed tears after many years apart.

The cast is better than ever

The conclusion of Mr. Monk’s Last Case delivers exactly what you would anticipate from the original cast as they unravel the murder. Natalie continues to support Monk, Leland remains skeptical of their suspect, and Randy generates outlandish theories. However, some may find that Monk’s personal journey either enhances or complicates the overall reunion in a manner that may seem excessively emotionally intense.

A Monk reunion movie without the original cast would feel next to impossible. Watching the movie, it's as if no time has passed at all, with Traylor Howard, Jason Gray-Stanford, Ted Levine, Héctor Elizondo, and Shalhoub looking just as good as ever. Their innate chemistry as friends and coworkers is evident on screen as they come back together after so many years. The movie does a great job of providing satisfying updates on the characters, including Natalie's hinted marriage in the final episodes, Randy and Sharona, and Leland and TK.

Shalhoub once again showcases Monk's talent for uncovering hidden clues and his determination to catch killers, all while portraying the character's struggles with OCD. Additionally, he brings a new layer of sympathy to Monk's emotionally broken facade from the original series.

However, the film style of the movie can be inconsistent and out of place at times, with certain scenes lacking cohesion and seamlessness.

Mr. Monk’s Last Case review score: 3/5

For someone who has watched the series countless times, the movie is a delightful reward. The characters are as familiar as ever, and perhaps even more captivating. Like the original series, you'll find yourself immersed in solving the murder mystery right alongside Monk.

The movie's change in tone with Monk creates a unsettling perspective on his character. While Monk has always handled his emotions independently, the series finale offered a glimmer of hope as he began to live his life more freely. It almost feels like a regression to his previous state, similar to the post-pandemic era.

For fans of Monk, "Mr. Monk's Last Case" delivers everything we could have wanted with the return of the cast and a gripping murder mystery, but it also presents a more emotional side of Monk that may require a tissue box.

You can find more of Dexerto’s TV & Movies content here, out review of Thanksgiving here, Disney’s Wish here.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan of the original Mr. Monk series, I was thrilled to hear about the release of Mr. Monk's Last Case. I grew up watching the show with my family, and Monk's quirky personality and unique detective skills always fascinated me. The news of a new murder case and the return of the beloved detective brought back a wave of nostalgia and excitement.

The movie did not disappoint! It was great to see Tony Shalhoub reprise his role as Monk and bring the character to life once again. The writers did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the original series while also introducing new elements and challenges for Monk to face. The post-pandemic setting added a fresh perspective and showed how the world had changed since the last time we saw Monk. The exploration of Monk's personal journey and his struggles with guilt and loss added depth to his character and made me connect with him on a deeper level.