Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

They Call Me Mr. Tibbs is the sequel to academy award winning picture In the Heat of the Night. Unfortunately, with few exceptions, sequels are never as good as their predecessors. This movie is no exception. It takes Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) from the previous movie and involves him in the investigation of the murder of a prostitute in San Francisco.

Reverend Logan Sharpe (Martin Landau) quickly becomes the center of the investigation. Sharpe is a good friend of Tibbs. However, the relationship between the two is never really developed here. Tibbs must struggle with his feelings of loyalty to the reverend, but we never really get a feeling that there is really all that much between them. Tibbs starts working with the evidence and following up on a variety of bad guys while searching for the truth. Sadly, the mystery that this centers on is not terribly mysterious. A lot of possibly interesting developments here are never developed. One gets the feeling that the writer had some good ideas, started writing them, went to eat lunch and never finished up the things he started.

They Call Me Mr. Tibbs! feels more like a made for television movie than a film, albeit a decent one. When compared to the film that was its inspiration, however, it is not up to par. It lacks intensity. There is not as much action in the Heat of the Night, but what is there plays better and feels more real. The racial tensions of the first movie are replaced by a background of community unrest which lacks any real oomph and which never really comes into focus. San Francisco in the late 60's was full of energy and life. That doesn't come through here.

The acting and directing (directed by Gordon Douglas) are good here, but the script is lacking that special something that might recommend it. Because the directing and acting is so good, however, it moves well enough to make it worth watching if it comes on television.

On the plus side are some terrific scenes of Tibbs with his children. Especially good are the scenes between he and his son (George Spell). The movie might have been better had there been more emphasis on this part of Tibb's life. It might have been better if the struggles Tibb's went though told us more about the many issues that Tibbs faces in his life.

So the ultimate recommendation? Don't rent this, but if it's on television, it's worth a watch.


Recommended: No

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12