Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games: The 70s – TV Review

Forget whatever you assume about Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. They don’t matter here. “Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games: The 70s” is actually the third season of a French TV series “Les Petits Meutres D’Agatha Christie,” (“The Little Murders of Agatha Christie”) but it’s like a first season, since most of the cast are new to this delightful comedic crime-fest. The package is ten 90-minute tele-films, with our trio of cops solving different cases in each.

A large part of the fun for viewers lies in everything they display about the 1970s, from miniskirts and go-go boots to music and attitudes. When no-nonsense Annie Greco (Emilie Gavois-Kahn) arrives as the new homicide captain in a precinct, the old-boy network smugly gives her a hard time, from the detectives under her to the brass looking over her shoulder, waiting for this woman to fail, thereby validating their chauvinism. But the gents soon learn that they picked the wrong target. Greco, built like a linebacker with a slight resemblance to Kathy Bates, is as solid inside as she looks. She’s tough, smart and dishes out ripostes decidedly sharper than the digs they throw at her.

Sensing the collective sloth and skepticism of the three squad slackers who greet her, Greco finds her partner in Max Beretta (Arthur Dupont), a brash young detective who’d been banished to desk drudgery because of his temper. In their first case, they meet Rose Bellecour (Chloe Chaudoye), a rich dilettante trying to establish herself as a therapist. The trio squabbles and annoys each other in many ways, but still manages to untangle a mare’s nest of suspects and motives to solve the murder of a popular actor. Greco keeps Rose on as a consultant, and orders Max to submit to sessions with her. Therapy for his anger issues is a non-negotiable condition of freedom from his previous paperwork patrol.

The crimes are interesting enough as whodunits but the biggest treats come from the settings and supporting cast. The mostly-glitzy milieus for the murders allow a bonanza of eye candy. TV stars in the first, murdered high-fashion models in the second, an exclusive sex club for the rich and powerful, touring rock stars, and an upscale matchmaking service. All venues presenting beautiful people at their most glamorous, clad in the height of ‘70s fashion. At least the ones who are still alive. Sets, props and decor will evoke nostalgia in any viewers old enough to recall the era.

On the comedy side, a bunch of amusing oddballs surround the three leads. Rose’s parents have no respect for her, or anything she does, maddeningly unaware of how desperately she wants – and deserves – their approval. Her mother’s (Christele Tual) ego-crushing narcissism is so off-the-charts that it makes “Arrested Development’s” matriarch (Jessica Walter) seem like Oprah on the sensitivity scale. She also steals just about every scene she’s in. Max’s wife dumped him because of his volatility, but his ongoing efforts to win her back reach hilariously beyond extreme. Meanwhile, the precinct’s shy, nerdy forensics guy (Benoit Moret) is totally smitten by Greco, who is too focused on her job to even notice, much less accept or reject his sweetly awkward overtures. And she reports to a neurotic chief (Quentin Baillot) who quivers with constant fear of disfavor from the honchos above him – especially when Greco’s crew steps on any influential toes. Which, of course, they regularly do.

The result is more comedy than crime but not in a sitcom way. The humor comes from the evolving relationships among the characters and the situations, rather than setups and quips. A few episodes may go a bit overboard on the plot du jour (the one hinging on hypnosis, particularly) but the better we get to know the players, the more enjoyable their stories become. At 90 minutes, some outings may run a bit longer than needed but should still seem well worth the time for those who appreciate a healthy serving of mirth with their murders.

“Agatha Christie’s Criminal Games: The ‘70s,” mostly in French with subtitles, starts streaming on MHzChoice on Tuesday, June 13, with two episodes; the rest released weekly thereafter.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars