Psych 3: This Is Gus 2021

With one significant exception, I thought Shawn and Gus's third film was a big step up from the prior two. The biggest success was the humor, which landed more often and with a nice balance of successful callbacks, running jokes, meta humor, and standard Psych hijinks. James and Dulé really carry the movie and have slipped back into these goofy roles seamlessly. While most of the standard Psych cast make appearances as well, they all feel a bit token, with several side stories feeling very much incomplete (Woody and his legal trouble, Carlton and his unresolved case, Henry and his baby crib, Karen and her family vacation, Juliet/Shawn and the children question). I suppose some of them were intended as cameos rather than side stories, but regardless it felt a bit odd. Luckily, that didn't detract from the movie too much, as Psych has always been primarily the Shawn and Gus show. The story presents a serviceable mystery for Shawn to solve that is very personal to Gus, which is a good set up as it gives us more time with the stars. Ultimately, the ending was the only thing that really dragged the movie down, as I thought it veered too far into the absurd/silly. Psych has always walked a fine line in that respect, but for me this one ended up on the wrong side of it. This may have also contributed to the conclusion feeling a bit rushed. In any case, conclusion notwithstanding, this one is definitely worth the time for any Psych fans looking for more of Shawn Spencer and his partner Birdinahand Andabush.