Indie comedy has it tough in the marketplace, so though it's no fun to pan the first feature by the Derrick Comedy troupe, neither was it fun to watch Mystery Team. Directed by Dan Eckman, this ensemble-written movie is a weak effort, despite its appealing premise.
Jason (Donald Glover of NBC's Community), Duncan (D.C. Pierson), and Charlie (Dominic Dierkes) live their dream of being kid detectives. Trouble is, they're now high-school seniors. They choose to ignore the scorn of their peers, the cringing of their families, and puberty. After a girl asks them to find out who murdered her parents, the investigation propels the über-dweebs into the company of strippers and drug dealers. The "hilarity" that ensues is pretty stale.
Like the boys, Mystery Team is in over its head as it wraps shtick around a plot about orphaned sisters. Since the film — which was shot in Manchester, New Hampshire — features cast members from each of NBC's Thursday-night sit-coms, its lasting value may be as the answer to a trivia question.
