Fun mystery series sequel has some melancholy moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Death, murder and suidal ideations are major themes. A person dies bungee jumping (the impact is not shown, but the screaming prior is) and a man is blown up, but there's no blood or gore. There are written threats.
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The loss of loved ones is a major theme. Themes like family, friendship, and perserverence, loneliness, and mental health are also present.
Positive Role Models
some
Monk wants to support his stepdaughter, and is committed to finding her fiancé's killer. It's made clear that his work has helped many people and can potentially help many more.
Diverse Representations
a little
The main character openly struggles with OCD and is dealing with other mental health issues. There are several secondary Black characters; the new police captain is a Black woman.
Parents need to know that Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie is a movie sequel to the mystery series Monk (2002-2009). It features the main character solving a case while navigating his OCD in a post-COVID 19 pandemic world. Death, murder, and suicide are major themes, as is the ability to cope with loss. People are shown falling to their death, screaming, and getting blown up, but there's no blood or gore. There are also some positive messages, like friendship, family, love, and helping others. There's an occasional strong word like "hell" uttered, drinking is visible, and references to prescription drugs are also present.
I have watched the show this is based on, but am not a rabid fan. This film is an extended TV movie. Shalhoub clearly knows this character inside and out and the film is all the better for it. The film's narrative around suicide is well presented and Shalhoub knows how to temper between melodrama, comedy and detective story. I shed a few tears at the end and felt that they ended the film with an appropriate dose of hour procedural.
What's the Story?
Fifteen years after the popular series Monk(2002-2009) ends, MR. MONK'S LAST CASE: A MONK MOVIE stars Tony Shalhoub reprising the role of Adrian Monk, a brilliant detective with obsessive compulsive disorder. The retired Monk spent the COVID-19 pandemic in lockdown and being taken care of by his stepdaughter, journalist Molly Evans (Caitlin McGee), and has now re-entered a more germaphobic world. However, thanks to a lack of a job to go to, the collapse of a book deal, and the distance between him and his former colleagues, Monk finds himself in a state of quiet despair. The only thing keeping him going is Molly's pending nuptials. But when her fiancé (played by Austin Scott) dies in a terrible accident before the wedding, Monk embarks on a mission to solve this very personal case.
Monk fans will feel nostalgic as an older Adrian Monk (Tony Shalhoub) finds himself using his smarts to solve a case while doing his best to function in a world he isn't completely comfortable navigating. Mr. Monk's Last Case features the return of some of the original cast members, including Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard), Randy Disher (Jason Gray-Stanford), Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine), and, of course, his therapist, Dr. Bell (Hector Elizondo). Their presence helps create a comfortable sense of the familiar while delivering the franchise's trademark humor. It's fun, but Mr. Monk's Last Case also contains a fair share of sad moments thanks to Molly's horrific loss and Monk's inability to cope with his own grief and loneliness, the latter which motivates him to plan to end his own life and join his late wife Trudy (Melora Hardin). Ultimately, the sequel manages to deliver a strong message of hope, and those who enjoy the original series will find it entertaining (if not as upbeat).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how to support people facing mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling to cope or is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for help.
How does Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie try to balance sadness with humor? Does it do so effectively?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
