As a fan of the Dick Van Dyke vehicle "Diagnosis Murder" this feature length addition caught my eye . Many of the original characters from the series axed in 2000 return here . Essentially Dr Mark Sloan ( Van Dyke ) is expecting his black sheep daughter to return home with her new husband . On the journey their car breaks down and they stop off in a Smallville-esquire town "Los Rios" . It is here that an incident occurs and Sloan and the usual suspects fear something more sinister is afoot . It would seem that the Van Dyke's ( for many of the family are here ) can't do pathos - a family member disappears and they show all the urgency of a sloth , and the emotion of Charles Bronson . The general story involving blackmail , racism , small town mentality and locals with a lot to lose has been done before and considerably better . Would have liked the jokey air of the original series to continue but this really was an episode too far .
Review of Diagnosis Murder: Town Without Pity
Diagnosis Murder: Town Without Pity
(2002 TV Movie)
Poor addition to the Diagnosis Murder Series
11 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers