SEX AND THE MARRIED DETECTIVE was one of the first outings for TV detective Columbo after an eleven-year hiatus for the show. It's certainly a return to the classy days of old, with strong production values, an effective soundtrack, and an above-average script which has a ball with the unusual premise.
Guest star Lindsay Crouse plays a sex therapist who discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She decides to commit the perfect murder by disguising herself as another woman and bumping him off - only to have the crumpled sleuth turn up in an attempt to solve the crime. We're in cosy territory here with a very familiar format, but the sex angle of the screenplay allows for plenty of funny moments where we see Columbo actively embarrassed for once.
In fact, there's a noticeable comedic angle to the whole film, and Peter Falk seems to be having a ball with it. The scene where he has a go at playing the tuba is a particular delight. Crouse is an effective star and the two have some great interplay. And it's not all comedy - the set-piece scene with the briefcase is a masterclass in building suspense to great effect.
Guest star Lindsay Crouse plays a sex therapist who discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her. She decides to commit the perfect murder by disguising herself as another woman and bumping him off - only to have the crumpled sleuth turn up in an attempt to solve the crime. We're in cosy territory here with a very familiar format, but the sex angle of the screenplay allows for plenty of funny moments where we see Columbo actively embarrassed for once.
In fact, there's a noticeable comedic angle to the whole film, and Peter Falk seems to be having a ball with it. The scene where he has a go at playing the tuba is a particular delight. Crouse is an effective star and the two have some great interplay. And it's not all comedy - the set-piece scene with the briefcase is a masterclass in building suspense to great effect.