Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)
It opens with the first scene from Monk's first episode where he is fretting about possibly leaving his oven on. His nurse/assistant Sharona Flemming is reassuring him that she checked the stove before they left. Monks voice then describes the stove and it's history of being a best seller and two recalls, ending with the day "everyone" remembers where they were when the news broke that the stove was discontinued.
Monk is in the office of a publisher who is reading from his book (an eight inch stack of paper) who tells him it has been 10 years and he still has not produced a book that can be published. She sites one of his one hundred and forty cases where he devotes maybe two paragraphs on the suspect and then nine pages on his vacuum cleaner. It was the same model that Monk owned. Monk then explains he needs the money for the wedding of a daughter that Trudy (deceased wife from a car bomb) that he only found out about twelve years prior. She means the world to him. The publishing deal is terminated.
In the hallway of the publisher, he unlocks a window. It is apparent he is going to jump. Then Trudy appears to him, as she sometimes did in the series. She talks him out of it. The elevator door opens and a man sees Monk standing with his hands outstretched holding the imaginary Trudy's hands. Monk gets in the elevator. The sole occupant, a roundish man, does not seem to think twice about Monk's behavior. As the doors start to close, Monk turns to the stranger and tells him the wedding is canceled.
This is the first ten minutes and it is full of "Monk-isms" both verbal and behavioral. The publisher is portrayed by his real life wife Brooke Adams. Trudy is portrayed by Melora Harden, who played Trudy Monk through most of the series after the first couple seasons. Some may recognize her as Jan from The Office. I appreciated them bringing her back. Here's the thing. EVERYONE is older than the last time we saw them fourteen years ago. It's as if the fans of Frasier got their wish and all the original actors returned. Honestly, it is never quite the same because everyone is different from when we last saw them. Monk makes it work. So why would Trudy be older? She's dead, unchanging (more or less). My rational is she exists only in Monk's mind, and they are growing old together. It's actually touching and sweet. Natalie Teeger, Randy Disher, Dr. Neven Bell, Leland Stottlemeyer all return.
That case: there is a murder (actually two) and there does not appear to be any way to tie them to the killer, a rich Bezosillionaire (trust me, it is appropriate). The second murder is personal for Monk, and he comes out of retirement to solve this one last case. It is obvious what happened, but it is not obvious how it was done.
By the way, and not really a spoiler, Adrian Monk plans to join Trudy on the other side. That is apparent after he unlocks and opens the window in the office building.
Like the series, it is funny. Heads up, can you believe two security guards recognized Randy from The Randy Disher Project (Randy's rock band)? I'm watching it again because the first time has a certain new, but familiar, quality after fourteen years. Monk is not as "crippled" as he use to me, but he is still very ... different and funny.
Sorry for the length. This show was always one of my favorites. I've been looking forward to the movie since I found out about it.