The cast plays over the top caricatures with over-done accents and plot lines are surface level accompanied by straightforward dialogue.

Although it may sound like it, I don't mean this as a criticism. This is, in my opinion, one of the film's greatest strong suits. The murder mystery genre (perhaps because it peaked in a different time where this style was more of the norm) is over the top with sharp and decided characters and an extremely strong and distinct visual theme. Staying true to this genre means that your film can lack nuance, but i don't think this disqualifies it as a good film.

Personally, what I think holds it back is that we've seen it before, and this time around, it didn't add really anything new. The Knives Out gimmick is cool to see experimented with in it's new tropical setting, but it falls victim to a script that thinks itself smarter than it really is.

The comedy was also less than perfect in my opinion. The Covid references aged like milk, were painfully eye-rolling, and dated the film in a really limiting way. Additionally, none of the reveals toward the end really surprised me. They weren't necessarily predictable, just not exciting. I didn't connect with any of the characters in particular, so maybe that's why.

I can see why most would have a fun time with this one, but it didn't strike me as anything particularly memorable or thought-through.