Psych: The Movie (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

It Was Nice Seeing the Gang, But...

[Eric266 · 6/10 · 8 December 2017]

I was really psyched (no pun intended) to see this. The banter between Shawn and Gus was the highlight of the series IMO. All the pop culture references were fun too. The supporting cast was always top-notch and the guests stars AND the references to those stars' other acting jobs were a hoot.

The movie was a let down for me. It was awesome seeing all the cast come back (with the exception of Woody, who I thought was a bad choice to bring back), but it seemed like they were filming a spoof of the TV show rather than a continuation of it. The characters acted as if they knew they were characters in a movie.

So many plots were shoehorned in just to give a reason to show former cast mates and guest stars that it made the plot feel bloated and convoluted. The Chief's daughter is a perfect example. The daughter's subplot was totally pointless other than to show that the Chief was now a mother. Another bad decision was Juliet's crises of conscience over her previous actions in the Santa Barbara PD. It was so out of character and so contrived it felt like fan fiction.

Despite these flaws, the banter between Gus and Shawn was great. Dule Hill and James Roday have a nice, easy chemistry between them and I wish that would have been more of the focus. The inclusion of Zachary Levi as a villain was a nice new twist, but I could have done without (spoiler alert) Mena Suvari as the ultimate villain. That just felt tacked on.

I hope they make a couple more of these over the next couple of years. I could do with more focus on Shawn and Gus, and less on the supporting cast. They are supporting characters for a reason.

Fun, although there are episodes of the series that are much better

[cherold · 7/10 · 29 August 2019]

I was really excited to see Psych had been continued in movie form, and for the most part that excitement was justified. As with the brilliant TV series, the show is often wildly funny and the chemistry between Shawn and Gus is perfect.

The first half is everything I wanted it to be, but issues turn up after a while. The movie falls victim to the disease of guest-star-itis, squeezing in a bunch of unnecessary cameos of people I barely remember. And the final confrontation is an attempt to create something bigger and more exciting what the series did, and it falls pretty flat.

The movie also, for some reason, virtually ditches the psychic schtick that was such a big part of the series. There's almost none of that Shaun-sight thing where certain items are highlighted, and the only fake psychic-ing is unconvincingly shoehorned in.

The end result is something that is funny and likable but also unfocused and, even more than the series itself, very messy.

If you're a Psych fan then you should definitely watch this, and if you've never seen the series you should also take a look. But this movie does not equal the best episodes of the series.

A good episode, not a great movie

[Peace_Fog · 8/10 · 12 May 2020]

This movie is for the fans, it feels like a continuation of the show, like an extra finale. It's great seeing the characters back, sad but understandable we didn't get to see Lassie, but he makes a brief cameo

People who haven't seen the show wont really get this movie. It doesn't stand on its own as a movie, it makes callbacks to the series & just feels like a longer episode

If you're a fan I'd recommend watching this, if you've never seen the show I'd recommend season 1 episode 1

The boys are back, and they're crazier than ever

[blanche-2 · 10/10 · 8 December 2017]

It was such a delight to hear the Psych theme song again and see the wonderful cast, including James Roday, Dule Hill, Maggie Lawson, Kristen Nelson, Corbin Bernsen, and Kurt Fuller. The only one missing was Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) who actually did appear when Maggie contacted him by phone.

When the film begins, it is three years later, and the whole group is now working in San Francisco. Shawn (Roday) continues to search for the engagement ring he wanted to give Juliet (Lawson), Gus (Hill) has a beautiful stalker, and someone is out to get Maggie.

There are the usual one-liners, the singing in harmony, and some familiar villains, including a hilarious bit at the end of the film. There's a scene in a closed insane asylum and one in Alcatraz. All par for the course.

I really miss these guys. I think today we need to laugh more than we ever have, and the Psych group belongs on the landscape. Thankfully, I don't think this is the last time we'll see them.

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 10/10 · 9 December 2017]

OK, maybe this one would be better titled a "bias" review.

You see, the TV show had this thing where it made me laugh out loud at least once an episode. At LEAST. And honestly, there aren't that many shows that have really made me laugh out loud.

And then, well, James Roday and Dulé Hill are just brilliant together, hands down the best comedic duo I've seen in a VERY long time.

So...walking into this, well, I had high expectations and, I kind of already knew I was going to love it...

Except...Timothy Omundson, breaks the heart about his stroke and he was missed, a lot, because, yeah, he was hysterical too.

And, as in the the TV show, the only week part is really Maggie Lawson and that's not her fault, she just...the straight one. She does a good job, but with Roday and Hill sharing scenes with her, it's hard for her to get out of those shadows.

Still, "Shawn stop talking," she has her moments.

And the same pretty much stands for this movie as well. Everyone is hysterical, Roday and Hill play off one another to great effect, and poor Lawson is stuck playing it straight while Corbin, Fuller, and the rest get to ham it up until, well, until you're laughing.

Really, they came back without missing a beat. It was like they were all made for their roles.

AND...did I mention it was funny, like really funny? Isn't that the most important part? I laughed out loud again. It was hysterical, just like the show and...just reminded me how much I missed it.

So funny that there were scenes you just had to rewind a few times.

Just so funny and, with shows like this, that is all that matters.

It was really like seeing old friends again.

Patchy although does more or less enough for the easy-going fan

[bob the moo · 26 December 2017]

Eight seasons and a movie, as the saying almost goes. Psych returns with a holiday special which I was looking forward to, being a fan of the show for how well it does what it does. It is mostly a welcome return, although it is affected by the pressure to be an event, and also a bit of a lack of confidence in its own fundamentals. As a result the movie is really very busy at times - too many tick box characters showing up to not do enough. It is nice to see so many of the cast back, but at the same time there is a lot of shoe-horning in there and maybe it would have worked better if it had been more focused and kept supporting characters' time down.

The plot itself isn't great, but it provides a decent enough frame for the duo to be themselves. Mostly this is enough, although it doesn't quite have the spark and freshness that it once did - again a feeling added to by weight and baggage of the characters. There are some nice laughs and enjoyable sections, certainly enough for fans who are just happy for new material - but it is far from classic Psych and it does make it feel like it needed a tighter hand to make it happen the way it needed to. The cast are all on reasonable form - although Roday and Hill don't quite gel as they have in the past, and the rest of the cast feel too present but without enough material - Fuller has a high hit rate though, but Bernsen didn't need to be there, and Omundson is hard to watch even though it is a nice gesture by the film.

All told it is a so-so movie, which is patchy but offers enough to justify fans watching. If they do another I will be there for that, but will be hoping that it can be a better product than this.

Not the best Psych but definitely enjoyed it

[holein6 · 7/10 · 24 October 2019]

I went back and watched the entire series again before watching this. "The Movie" wasn't Christmas dinner but more of a real good, satisfying late night ham sandwich. Standard Psych interactions. Fun, some good lines etc. The more negative reviews, I get. The plot was thin and it lacked any dramatic moments. Psych has the ability to bring laugh out loud moments and move you to tears moments in the same episode. Few shows do it as well. This wasn't Yin/Yang good (I hope Ally Sheedy is in the next installment), nor as good as the Despereaux or Declan Rand episodes but itt was entertaining and fun. I enjoyed seeing Zachary Levi from "Chuck" although wished he was a client rather than a bad guy. My hopes is that the second movie contains both the humor AND the emotional drama of the better episodes.

it's like they never left

[annaleighbaymont · 10/10 · 8 December 2017]

psych the movie totally complements the series and at the same time stands on it's own. The old gang back in action brings laughs and wakens the love for the series. Guaranteed every psych-o and non-psych-o will love it. Definitely comedy highlight of 2017. Though it's been three years since series finale, it seems like psych never left. Still goofy and brilliant psych is back in it's glory. I hope this movie is not the last.

I love psych but this was a big letdown

[James0987 · 7/10 · 13 June 2019]

It was great to see everyone (almost) back together again but it just didn't do it for me. It honestly wasn't that funny like it use to be.

Psych fans rejoice :D

[z-coniglietti · 10/10 · 10 December 2017]

I'll put it nice and sweet:

If you like Psych you will loooove this. Same funny writing, same performances. I don't know if other people will enjoy this as there are a lot of parts where the series is referenced and they might be lost and confused by everything.

I had a blast watching it!

Fun, but frustrating...

[jokroeger · 6/10 · 23 November 2021]

OK, let me begin with a disclaimer: I love Psych. I've just always been a huge fan of mysteries and detective stories (although I still prefer Monk over this, because this show prioritizes shenanigans over procedure). I also love a great buddy comedy, and Psych nailed that perfectly with James Roday and Dule Hill as Shawn and Gus. It helps that they're friends in real life. Steve Franks' theme song, sung by his band The Friendly Indians, is perfect for the show, and the pineapple gag is wonderful.

All that said, you would think I would be totally ecstatic about a movie/holiday special...right? Well, Psych: The Movie has me torn for a number of reasons. First, it doesn't actually carry over Shawn's defining "psychic" shtick, and there's hardly a coherent mystery (more on that later). Sure, it's great to see Shawn and Gus back together again, but Lassiter is reduced to a cameo on an iPhone (Tim Omundson suffered a stroke). Additionally, most of the jokes just didn't land for me; most of them were preoccupied with "dongle" references...and those got old REAL fast.

As for the inside-the-beltway mystery, they have always been silly or nonsensical. Again, "Psych" is more about the silliness, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put some effort into the case. Without spoiling anything, even die-hard fans may be left scratching their heads with this one.

All of this brings me to my final point. This is basically an extended "Psych" episode, but even "Psych: The Musical" was a better movie. This is definitely not for casual viewers looking for something to watch, because they will be lost. It certainly does some things right for "Psych-Os", but at the end of the day it doesn't really feel like "Psych", because it's lacking Shawn's goofy crime-solving shenanigans.

A really nice treat.

[johnny-burgundy · 8/10 · 12 December 2017]

Psych: The Movie (2017) This is a television movie based on the dramedy series of the same name. It follows the main characters three years later in San Francisco. After Juliet's partner Sam is shot, the Psych team attempts to find out who did it, while a mysterious organization is blackmailing Juliet. It has been well received by critics. The format permits a wider format to delve into several side stories, but still maintains the quirky charm of its namesake. I wish more shows would consider doing this. We all know shows can't last forever, but occasional reunions or character cameos in other series can be cool. They use too big in the 80's. It was a really nice treat.

"My name is Burton Guster and this is my partner, White Privilege."

[bensonmum2 · 5/10 · 28 January 2018]

I'm going to sound a bit like some of the others who've written about Psych: The Movie - it was great seeing the gang back together, but the end result left me disappointed. The plot here barely matters as the movie is more about bringing back as many old characters as possible. And because of that, there's often too much going on. There are too many sub-threads that aren't needed and only serve to confuse the issue. Ralph Macchio - unnecessary. John Cena - unnecessary. Corbin Bernsen - (I can't believe I'm saying this) unnecessary. Even the reveal of an old returning baddie (which I won't spoil) - unnecessary and unrecognizable. The big exception to this was Jimmi Simpson as Mary. I always enjoyed his character and here, he adds something fun to the film.

The thing that I always enjoyed the most about Psych was the chemistry between James Roday and Dule Hill. Ask anyone who was a fan - it's what made the show special. And while there are some nice moments between Shawn and Gus, not all of it works. There are times where the comedy feels forced. It lacks that natural flow that made the show special. You've heard the expression that it's hard to catch lightning in a bottle, well, it's even harder to catch it twice. Other shows have tried and generally failed and, unfortunately, Psych is no different.

Psych: The Movie gets a lot of points for nostalgia. A couple of other parts I really got a kick out of were Gus' new stalker-girlfriend (especially when she mentioned Bud from the Cosby Show) and the final scene. Overall, though, a wishy-washy 5/10 from me.

Great, but some stuff was really stupid

[ResidentEvil2Fan · 9/10 · 4 May 2019]

I really liked this movie. It was hilarious and well written overall. Shawn and Gus were outstanding as always. Henry was still hilarious and you can still see some of the anger that got him into trouble in S6E2. Woody brought the wiseass coroner back that makes almost all of his episodic appearances watching IMO.

One part that was unnecessary or unneeded or whatever you want to call it was the brief part with Nick Conforth. His part seemed forced and brought nothing IMO, and the episode to which the movie is trying to reference was also a relatively weak episode IMO as well.

And another part that seemed tacked on was the ending as this screamed USA Network's "executive meddling" or something to feature John Cena, about like his only episodic appearance, IMO. And what hurts this here is that the ending should've been a nice homage to the pilot and a tribute to a deceased fan by Shawn with his T-shirt. Just should've left the ending in the cutting room and put the pineapple sequence/memoriam elsewhere in the movie.

This movie is a ball of fun

[KyleLicht · 8/10 · 15 July 2020]

It's stupid, cheesy, and just as I'd expected. It's a great way to see your favorite characters' storylines continued and their antics played out. There were many times I laughed out loud and I found the mystery storyline to be interesting enough for what I expected. The writing, especially the dialogue, is extremely clever with its movie references and the movie is a great way to have a good time.

Psych The Movie

[bobcobb301 · 8/10 · 8 December 2017]

Psych is a show that had a lasting impact on the procedural genre, even if that wasn't their intention. Comedy has to be a part of every dynamic from now on and the ones that embrace it fully seem to last longer on the air than those that don't (see Castle, NCIS: LA etc.).

This Psych movie was far from perfect, but it was a perfect return to the world of these crazy detectives and cops. Every character was on point and they did not miss a beat with the random cultural references (including an episode of Flight of the Conchords where Jemaine pretended to be David Bowie) or the returns of past guest stars.

Funny, enjoyable, I never got bored, which is rare for a 2 hour TV movie.

Glad USA did this and maybe it can become a tradition every two years or so for the network.

Welcome back Psych

[hoopladesign · 8/10 · 23 March 2018]

When I watched the show it was never through the same lens as I would The Wire, Breaking Bad, True Detective etc. In reality the plots were thin, the mystery obvious, the central concept can barely stand scrutiny. But none of that mattered. They were like a sketched framework that allowed what the show was really about to work. The relationships, friendships, the dialogue, the endless references to obscure 80s pop culture, the comedy... And Psych The Movie is exactly the same. It brings all those incredibly fun elements together in a rather chaotic messy way. There's something so comforting as the theme tune starts, like sitting down at the start of a night with a drink surrounded by friends you've known forever. It's sad that Lassiter only gets a small appearance due to Omundson's stroke because he was such a big part of the show.

I do wonder though whether there are a couple of plot threads that Steve Franks and James Rodey put in that suggest at where they wanted to take the series before it ended. Juliet's confession in the film would have worked well in terms of a season's arc. And how Shawn's influence is problematic for her. And also the Chief's daughter that seemed to have bigger possibilities that don't go anywhere. The shift in Henry's personality and outlook of life. I like that he had changed, because people change and how others deal with that opens up possibilities. Others consider these odd plot threads as a negative thing but as a fan of the show I'm more intrigued by them and wonder what they had planned. I hope we get to see.

Q: So what's your verdict on knowing they're back on-screen?... A: well I gotta say...erm, hearing the news, of course it 'Pysch'ed me out...

[EvanCunW8t · 8/10 · 16 May 2020]

What is it about James Roday and Dule Hill that leads me to return to setting aside social time and become immersed in their onscreen shenanigans? All I can say from my own perspective, is that I am glad the cast, crew and makers of this genre, find the time to bring us ordinary folk enjoyable on screen entertainment. Personally, the comedic duo offers up an opportunity to escape, albeit for short spells, from the humdrum of everyday life and, I'm most grateful to say, comfortably laugh out loud.

Just had a quick gander at other reviews/trivia and was sorry to hear that the actor who plays the Lassiter character had health issues that led to James Roday et al., re-working the script and, was impressed that this was achieved within just 72hours - talented or what - yup, I'm both in awe...yet, extremely jealous of such abilities.

Looking forward to seeing the 2020 film being released. Probably have to wait some time before getting to download/rent the film in this neck of the woods...that said, knowing there is more entertaining Psych to follow, for me, personally, is great news.

Yup....I hope, when other set aside time to chill out too, they find, the film, just like the show, find.... it'll 'Psych' you out In the end...

Glad They're Back... But a Bit Underwhelming

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 27 December 2017]

I'll echo a couple of other reviews I've read on here in that, while I did enjoy seeing the full cast back in action together, I don't think it was up to par with the better episodes of the series. It was on-par with most of the episodes of the last season or two of the show but by then, the show was on a decline in quality.

Some of the jokes were a bit played out; it almost felt like they were trying too hard to make the audience remember these characters' catchphrases and idiosyncrasies instead of focusing on writing good comedy.

Still, it wasn't all bad. They did have a few lines that made me laugh aloud. The inclusion of some of the smaller bit characters from seasons past was a nice touch too. It's hard to complain too much about new Psych material!

Amazingly Happy

[gary-bearden21 · 10/10 · 30 July 2018]

Great movie with old cast and new laughs. I was so upset when the series was canceled. It was my number one go to show while deployed in Afghanistan. Every deployment I would watch the series more than once and would turn others who have never seen the show into fans. This last deployment I left right as this movie came out and of course I had to watch the whole series again before watching the movie. I feel that's the best way to enjoy this movie is to rewatch the series. I hope some day they bring the series back. There would be so many new crimes to solve in San Francisco.

9/10!

[AnnaPagrati · 9/10 · 27 August 2021]

I was so happy to see the squad united & solving mysteries again! Except Lassie! I really missed him on the action, he's of the funniest characters, but of course, health should always come first!

Would give it 11 stars if possible

[willandcharlenebrown · 10/10 · 7 August 2020]

Words can't explain how awesome this movie was to follow up the series. If you were a fan of psych the TV series this will not let you down in one single bit

Very good

[szgege · 8/10 · 9 March 2022]

This is way much better then season 8. It is soo bad that someone made this series to that horror last season. I love crime and comedy together and today there aren't any this type of series. Not even a good crime series... I miss the dou from today tv.

Great to see the gang back

[cam-28892 · 10/10 · 16 March 2018]

It was a fun movie. Anyone who hasn't watched psych religiously most likely wouldn't rate it as high. But man, I loved watching the chemistry between Shawn and Gus again! It was a great "sequel" to the series finale. The main cast knocks it out of the park. For the psych fans, in the first episode Shawn helps the police get a guy who busted a tail light because fragments were in his shoe. That same guy is then interrogated in the movie by the people chasing Shawn. Great cameo for us psych fans.

Glad to see the gang back again but I can't deny that I was a little disappointed with the overall result!

[chrichtonsworld · 5/10 · 9 December 2017]

Psych was a very creative and funny spin on the crime genre that was built on the great chemistry between James Roday and Dulé Hill. The two together made the show what it was. But like a lot of successful shows they lost their way and forgot about that and made other elements more prominent. So when the show ended I wasn't particularly sad to see it go like I normally am when shows finish. Still the idea of Psych coming back as a TV movie made me happy because that could become a regular thing especially if it would bring the magic that once was.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. The whole movie was disappointing. It was fun to see most characters from the show return. And the banter between Shawn and Gus easily was the best the movie had to offer. But other than that it wasn't that good. In the later seasons of the show they made the mystery element more important which sometimes really worked well since it added genuine thrills and suspense next to the comedy. However more than I would like to it detracted from the comedy. I didn't mind the more dramatic episodes since they only made you love the characters more. What I did find annoying was the fact that it got in the way of how Shawn and Gus interacted. The focus was on the mystery and the dynamics between Shawn and Gus seemed like an afterthought. Actually a lot of the interactions between Shawn, Gus and other characters was what gave the show it's edge. In this movie these interactions are only present for the sake of nostalgia without giving us the wit and clever jokes that usually were part of these interactions. This becomes apparent in the way Shawn's father is treated. In the early seasons Shawn and his father (Corbin Bernsen) also had some interesting dynamics. They emphasized Shawn's unique crime solving skills compared to that of a veteran cop. Plus I liked the relationship they had. The father always acted like Shawn was a pain while in truth he was very proud. Now you didn't get anything that came close to it. All you got was how the father had mellowed out and that he is not the same guy we knew. I don't know it just felt that the writers couldn't be bothered to give us the characters we learned to love. But then the mystery itself was hardly compelling or one that you could take seriously. Psych always was a comedy but it did have moments where things could get real. In this movie this never happens. Almost like you are never supposed to like it's one big joke.

I never watched Psych for the mysteries. For me it was about Shawn and Gus and how they solved those crimes. So any time when you shift away the focus from that you shoot yourself in the foot. I like it that through these TV movies these beloved characters can live on but then they should go back to what made the show great in the first place.