The Private Eye. Who’s Watching Whom?

Matt Rife is The Private Eye. And if you’re watching him in his first leading role, then he hopes you’ll love everything that’s offered in this detective story. As Mort Madison, he’s down on his luck even worse than those attempting to survive the Dirty 30s. Although this work is set in the modern day, what it pays homage to is very much of the cliches from yesteryear.

However, I can’t shake the feeling this work also touches on what’s great about Magnum P.I. (the original series). That’s because Mort is seen more often seen wearing a Hawaiian shirts; it’s a detail I can’t stop noticing. Although he’s not savvy enough like Thomas Magnum to win over Michelle (Clare Grant), that’s because she still has her eyes on David (credited as Elliot in the IMDB). And when he decides to eliminate this unintended rival, he hopes he can win over the dame and live happily ever after.

But there’s a novel twist which got me smirking. Here, the narrator (Eric Roberts) presents viewers with a story that’s more fruitful than the action going on. He even has a on screen part which I wanted more of! What this all means is that writer-director Jack Cook and co-writers Hope Ayiyi and Rosalinda Books should have person giving the voice over and Mort one and the same! They certainly know the tropes but somehow, not everything ties together neatly.

Rife is great with a live audience when he does his stand-up (I looked at his YouTube channel), but to transfer that mojo for movie theatre audiences is a different world. I believe he can do it. It just needs refining.

Ultimately, I did ask myself the question of whether I’d enjoy this story had it been rewritten as a Fringe theatre production? It’d be a drastic change, but I believe it would work. Had this character been more like Dirk Darrow–who is also actively wowing audiences and the people he brings to the stage–then I think we have an act!

3 Stars out of 5

The Private Eye Trailer