After watching the rather plodding "A Pocket Full Of Rye", "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" was exactly what I needed: an audacious premise and a break from formula. Because here we begin with five words, and we watch as the story is being built from scratch - the question is not just who is the killer, but also who is the victim, who is this Evans, is he a witness, etc. The ending caught me by surprise (it's been ages since I watched the earlier TV version), and although the film undeniably cheats (Miss Marple seems to know things that the viewer had absolutely no chance of finding out beforehand), the main twist hidden within the title is ingenious! This one also has a more engaging cast than "Rye", especially the charming Georgia Moffett. And I like how Miss Marple's function changes in each of Season 4's stories - in "Rye", she is the seeker of justice; in "Murder Is Easy", she is the outsider-investigator; in "They Do It With Mirrors", she is the supportive friend; and in "Evans", she is the mentor and guide of two young people with bright minds but not enough experience yet. Julia McKenzie has settled into all these roles quite comfortably. *** out of 4.
Review of Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
