Mystery Team
Encyclopedia
Mystery Team is a 2009 film created by the comedy group Derrick Comedy
. The story was written by Donald Glover
, DC Pierson
, Dominic Dierkes
, Dan Eckman
, and Meggie McFadden. It stars Donald Glover, DC Pierson, and Dominic Dierkes. It was directed by Eckman and produced by McFadden.
To prove to themselves and the town at large that they can be "real detectives", the Mystery Team take it upon themselves to solve a double homicide when they are hired by a young girl to discover why her parents were killed.
produced and shot over seven weeks in the Spring of 2008. It was shot on the Red camera. Mystery Team was filmed primarily in Manchester, New Hampshire
, Eckman and McFadden's hometown. Mark's Showplace, a real-life strip club in Bedford, New Hampshire
, was used as Ponytail's Gentlemen's Club in the movie. The Lumber Yard scenes were filmed on location at Reeds Ferry Lumber Corp. Merrimack, NH.
The movie was shot on a tight budget. Dominic Dierkes
mentioned on the DVD commentary and on tour stops that lighting problems forced a wardrobe change for his character. Dierkes said his initially white shirt reflected light that appeared to glow when viewed on screen. With several early "white shirt" scenes already shot, and not having the budget to reshoot them, the members of Derrick opted to write in a gag in which Dierkes spilled chocolate milk and used the shirt as a rag, forcing him to switch to a red shirt for the remainder of the movie. At a Seattle screening, an audience member noted that the white shirt soaked in a brown heart shape from the chocolate milk. Dierkes responded by saying. "It wasn't intentional... maybe the shirt is like a Rorschach test. Why are you so focused on love, sir?"
as part of the Park City at Midnight series and was then released by Roadside Attractions
in select cinemas on September 11 and 18, 2009. After a high frequency of demands on eventful.com, the film received additional theater engagements throughout the fall, including one starting in New York City on December 4. A private screening was also arranged for employees at Pixar
. The film grossed $89,442 in the United States.
To promote the film, the group released a new online digital short starring the central characters, entitled Mystery Team Adventures: The Case of the Haunted Hotel.
The Mystery Team DVD was released on May 25, 2010. The film can also be purchased through Zune on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
reported that 53% of 17 sampled critics gave the film positive reviews and that it got a rating average of 5.2 out of 10.
Derrick Comedy
Derrick Comedy is an Internet sketch comedy group from New York University. The group has a large YouTube following and was mentioned in Rolling Stone in July 2007. Their video "Bro Rape" has garnered over 8 million views...
. The story was written by Donald Glover
Donald Glover
Donald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
, DC Pierson
DC Pierson
DC Pierson is an American comedian, author, rapper and actor. He is best known for his involvement in the sketch and improvisational comedy group Derrick Comedy....
, Dominic Dierkes
Dominic Dierkes
Dominic Dierkes is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his involvement in the sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy.-Life and career:...
, Dan Eckman
Dan Eckman
Dan Eckman is an American director, writer, and producer. Eckman first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy.-Early life:Eckman was born on January 27, 1984 in Manchester, New Hampshire...
, and Meggie McFadden. It stars Donald Glover, DC Pierson, and Dominic Dierkes. It was directed by Eckman and produced by McFadden.
Plot
The Mystery Team began with three children who styled themselves detectives, solving mostly kid-related mysteries such as missing cats or a lost baseball, but also gaining some local fame. Somehow, the trio have remained as naive as ever, although they are about to graduate from high school. They have continued the same mindset and antics even though they are teenagers, focusing on children's infractions, although adults (such as their parents) wonder when the teens will grow out of this attitude.To prove to themselves and the town at large that they can be "real detectives", the Mystery Team take it upon themselves to solve a double homicide when they are hired by a young girl to discover why her parents were killed.
Cast
- Donald GloverDonald GloverDonald McKinley Glover is an American actor, writer, comedian, and musician. Glover first came to attention for his work in the sketch group Derrick Comedy, and is best known for his role as community college student Troy Barnes on the NBC comedy series Community...
as Jason Rogers - DC PiersonDC PiersonDC Pierson is an American comedian, author, rapper and actor. He is best known for his involvement in the sketch and improvisational comedy group Derrick Comedy....
as Duncan Wheeler - Dominic DierkesDominic DierkesDominic Dierkes is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his involvement in the sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy.-Life and career:...
as Charlie Day - Aubrey Plaza as Kelly Peters
- Glenn Kalison as Robert
- Peter Saati as Leroy
- Ellie KemperEllie KemperElizabeth Claire "Ellie" Kemper is an American actress, comedian and writer best known for her role as Erin Hannon in NBC's The Office.-Personal life:...
as Jamie - Matt Walsh as Jim
- Bobby MoynihanBobby MoynihanRobert M. "Bobby" Moynihan, Jr. is an American actor and comedian who is currently a cast member on Saturday Night Live.-Early life:...
as Jordy - Daphne Ciccarelle as Brianna Peters
- John LutzJohn Lutz (television writer)John Lutz is an American actor, writer and comedian.-Biography:The son of a Lutheran minister, Lutz grew up in suburban Chicago and Detroit. He attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, majoring in psychology and minoring in...
as Frank - Jon C. Daly as Greg Coleman
Production
In January 2008, Derrick Comedy took a hiatus from filming short online sketch videos to produce Mystery Team, which is the group's first feature-length production. The film was independentlyIndependent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
produced and shot over seven weeks in the Spring of 2008. It was shot on the Red camera. Mystery Team was filmed primarily in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, Eckman and McFadden's hometown. Mark's Showplace, a real-life strip club in Bedford, New Hampshire
Bedford, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2000, there were 18,274 people, 6,251 households, and 5,125 families residing in the town. The population density was 556.6 people per square mile . There were 6,401 housing units at an average density of 195.0 per square mile...
, was used as Ponytail's Gentlemen's Club in the movie. The Lumber Yard scenes were filmed on location at Reeds Ferry Lumber Corp. Merrimack, NH.
The movie was shot on a tight budget. Dominic Dierkes
Dominic Dierkes
Dominic Dierkes is an American actor, comedian and writer best known for his involvement in the sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy.-Life and career:...
mentioned on the DVD commentary and on tour stops that lighting problems forced a wardrobe change for his character. Dierkes said his initially white shirt reflected light that appeared to glow when viewed on screen. With several early "white shirt" scenes already shot, and not having the budget to reshoot them, the members of Derrick opted to write in a gag in which Dierkes spilled chocolate milk and used the shirt as a rag, forcing him to switch to a red shirt for the remainder of the movie. At a Seattle screening, an audience member noted that the white shirt soaked in a brown heart shape from the chocolate milk. Dierkes responded by saying. "It wasn't intentional... maybe the shirt is like a Rorschach test. Why are you so focused on love, sir?"
Release
Mystery Team premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
as part of the Park City at Midnight series and was then released by Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions is a US film distributor based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2003, specializing largely in independent films.Lionsgate bought a partial stake in Roadside in 2007.-List of films released by Roadside Attractions:...
in select cinemas on September 11 and 18, 2009. After a high frequency of demands on eventful.com, the film received additional theater engagements throughout the fall, including one starting in New York City on December 4. A private screening was also arranged for employees at Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
. The film grossed $89,442 in the United States.
To promote the film, the group released a new online digital short starring the central characters, entitled Mystery Team Adventures: The Case of the Haunted Hotel.
The Mystery Team DVD was released on May 25, 2010. The film can also be purchased through Zune on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points.
Reception
Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 53% of 17 sampled critics gave the film positive reviews and that it got a rating average of 5.2 out of 10.