McBride: Tune in for Murder (2005) starring John Larroquette, Marta DuBois, Matt Lutz, John Kapelos, Frazer Smith, Jack Conley, Wren T. Brown directed by Stephen Bridgewater Movie Review

McBride: Tune in for Murder (2005)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Matt Lutz and John Larroquette in McBride: Tune in for Murder (2005)

Someone Killed the Radio Star

Whilst The Buggles sang "Video Killed the Radio Star" there was no video when it came to the murder of a disc jockey in "McBride: Tune in for Murder" the 5th of 10 made for TV movies featuring John Larroquette as Mike McBride. In fact taken seriously there was very little evidence at all in this 5th movie which gave us plenty of suspects and then McBride pulling out of thin air which one was the guilty party. But do you know what in these movies that isn't a problem because like the other movies in this series "McBride: Tune in for Murder" is all about the comical confidence and charisma of John Larroquette as Mike McBride and as such it works.

Whilst Mike (John Larroquette) relies on the good nature of Roberta (Marta DuBois) to look after his dog Jesse whilst his home is being painted he also finds himself defending DJ Bob Carter (John Kapelos) who was arrested for the murder of fellow DJ Ron Garrison (Frazer Smith). As Mike with the help of associate Phil (Matt Lutz) investigate the case they discover that the other presenters at the radio station all had motive to have killed Ron as he was either black mailing them or had caused them personal loss. The question for McBride is which one did it whilst for Phil he needs to work out who Patti (Veronica Lauren) is as whilst she may say she is an assistant from the D.A.'s office she certainly isn't.

Marta DuBois in McBride: Tune in for Murder (2005)

To be honest you shouldn't watch "McBride: Tune in for Murder" if you are looking for a serious crime drama where clues are gathered, analysed and so on because that is not the nature of this series. But even so it has to be said that when it comes to the crime side of the movie it is weaker than normal and it doesn't take a genius to realise that when we hear the recorded 911 call which Ron supposedly made when he was being killed is a total fake. That is not the only issue because this story sets up the fact that 4 of Ron's colleagues had reason to kill him from having their lives ruined to being blackmailed but when it comes down to which one the reasoning ends up the weakest.

But as I said you don't really watch these "McBride" movies for the story but more for John Larroquette as Mike McBride and that comical charisma which makes us smile. And the good news is that we get plenty of it through out "McBride: Tune in for Murder" be it during romantic drinks with Roberta or when he has a glint in his eye as he discovers that one clue which will help him. Talking of Roberta, the relationship between her and McBride nicely grows in this movie allowing Marta DuBois to show a softer side and a lovely one at that. Plus of course there is Matt Lutz who is reliably comical as Phil building on what he has shown in the previous movies.

What this all boils down to is that "McBride: Tune in for Murder" is what you expect from these "McBride" movies which means it relies on the central trio and their likeability to make it entertaining. But at the same time it has to be said the actual crime side of the movie is weak, weaker than normal and almost at times feels like an after thought.

Tags: McBride Movies, TV Mystery Movie Crime Solvers


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