Mr. Monk’s Last Case

Every project has its own time, and the journey of our beloved Adrian Monk and his creator, Andy Breckman, exemplifies this truth once again. Since the conclusion of the “Monk” TV series after 125 episodes in 2009, Breckman has harbored a dream of bringing the character to the big screen. Over the years, he developed various storylines, pitched them, and even penned two different scripts, but none of them seemed to materialize. That is, until the pandemic struck. Sometimes, out of adversity, opportunity arises.

Fans of “Monk” know well his obsessive concern with hygiene and health, so it’s easy to imagine how the pandemic would have hit him particularly hard. This unexpected global crisis reignited interest in the character. Breckman crafted a four-minute film depicting Monk during lockdown, and unexpectedly, this served as the catalyst to finally move the movie project forward after eleven years of dormancy.

“Mr. Monk’s Last Case” follows Adrian Monk, the San Francisco-based detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder, as he returns to solve one last, deeply personal case involving his beloved stepdaughter, Molly. Written by series creator Andy Breckman and directed by Randy Zisk, who also helmed numerous episodes of the TV series, the film evokes both nostalgia and a sense of farewell.

In an interview, Breckman expressed a profound sense of responsibility to Monk’s fans. He explained, “We wanted to justify bringing everyone back for the movie, and it felt like Monk should be in real trouble – serious trouble, emotional trouble. So, we raised the stakes almost as high as you can raise them.” He also cited inspiration from “It’s A Wonderful Life,” almost felt channeling Frank Capra as he crafted the piece. Breckman delved into the character’s foundation, describing Monk as a blend of Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Brown. He also acknowledged Arthur Conan Doyle’s influence by saying “He was there in 1900 before any of us with a flawed, low-functioning, brilliant outsider detective. We all owe him a great debt.”

I was pleasantly surprised to see the movie take a darker and more emotional turn than the show. It felt like a risky move, but it paid off in the end. Kudos to the creators for daring to step out of their comfort zone. However, I have some thoughts on the mystery aspect. It felt a bit too predictable for my taste. I mean, I’m used to predicting endings—it comes with the territory of watching and writing mysteries—but I felt like I had it figured out way too early. It could have been more intricate and complex. 

If you’re curious about Monk’s experience during the lockdown, you can watch the short film titled “Monk in Quarantine” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4W2xmqjvx4