Since 1968, “The Three ???” have definitely been solving problems. Started as a youth crime series in the USA, the crime stories of Justus, Peter and Bob were so popular, especially in Germany, that the adventures are continued in this country to this day. Above all, the radio play series of the same name, in which Oliver Rohrbeck, Jens Wawrczeck and Andreas Fröhlich lend their voices to the young detectives, helped the brand achieve the cult status that now even leads to filled concert halls and open-air stages when the three voice actors appear with a new case Go on tour.
With “The three??? – Heir of the Dragon”, the sleuths launched another attack on the big screen in 2023 – and with success: The cinema reboot became a real box office hit and was even the most successful German film of the year with more than 1.5 million tickets sold . So it's no wonder that two sequels were commissioned and shot in one go. And what many fans are most pleased about: “The three??? and the Carpathian dog“ as well as “The Three ???” which will follow in 2026. – Island of the Dead” are based on classic episodes of the radio play series! And actually: “The Carpathian Dog” almost feels like a classic “Three ???” episode, especially compared to “Heir of the Dragon” – quirky characters and fun puzzles included.
The three question marks have to solve a new case.
Justus Jonas (Julius Weckauf), Peter Shaw (Nevio Wendt) and Bob Andrews (Levid Brandl) run a small detective agency in the heart of the Californian coastal town of Rocky Beach. Their headquarters is a discarded trailer on the grounds of the T. Jonas used goods center. The trio has already distinguished itself in the past by helping out in some tricky cases – and the next assignment is already waiting: the desperate gallery owner Mr. Prentice (Ulrich Tukur) needs help!
Ghostly things are going on in his Los Angeles apartment complex. The earth shakes there every day and the air is filled with an eerie howling. In fact, the three detectives quickly become witnesses to these mysterious events. When the eponymous work of art is suddenly stolen from the collector's treasure trove, the junior investigators are faced with another mystery: Who is behind the theft? Are hauntings and art theft related? Justus & Co. have a tough nut to crack…
Finally sun!
“The Three ???” has a purely visual appeal. and the Carpathian Dog” – at least in the eyes of many loyal fans – has a clearer advantage over its immediate predecessor. Because where “Heir of the Dragon” transported the cult troupe from sunny California to cold Transylvania in Romania, the new adventure takes place in the homeland of the cult characters (even if the action largely takes place in Los Angeles and not in the fictional coastal town of Rocky Beach is located). Although it was not filmed in the USA but on the Canary Islands, the end result definitely feels like the America of the “three ???”.
This may also be because the set designers did a great job and kept adding little Easter eggs that make the world of question marks really come to life. The covers of the legendary graphic designer Aiga Rasch are quoted several times, who contributed significantly to the cult status of the series with her flashy and brightly colored illustrations. Cross-references to older cases involving the detective team can be seen in the background, as can references to well-known characters. Master thief Victor Hugenay is mentioned here, as is Chicken King Barney Crown, who the investigators help out in the episode “The Poisonous Rooster”.
Mr. Prentice (Ulrich Tukur) needs the detectives' help.
And the ensemble of characters is really fun in other ways too. Client Fenton Prentice and the residents of the residential complex are a strange bunch, each with their own quirks. The characters have been modernized compared to the original, but can still be recognized as the originals that radio play fans have been familiar with for decades. In addition to Ulrich Tukur, who is the linchpin of the investigation as a desperate art lover in need, Sunnyi Melles also impresses as the facility manager Mrs. Boogle, who ensures one or two fun interactions with her morbid curiosity.
But Filip Schnack, who plays the three-question-mark adversary Skinny Norris, turns out to be an absolute scene-stealer. With a fuzzy mustache, cheeky earring and tattered clothes, he looks like the brutal antithesis to the staid high school trio. With quick sayings, some of which were taken directly from the original, the nasty skinny not only causes some real laughs, but also makes the snoopers sweat a lot with a nasty prank – the walking scarecrow from “The Ant Man” sends his regards.
There's also a bit of horror involved
There are also a few mild horror episodes that brought some of the smallest audience members to the brink of tears during the press screening in Berlin. In particular the ending, which also includes elements from “The Three ???” in favor of greater show value. and the Comic Thieves”, the introduction of the blood-red phantom reminds us that the adventures of Justus, Peter and Bob have always had a certain spooky note anchored in their DNA.
So everything is good in Rocky Beach? Almost. The main weak point turns out to be the main cast. They all embody their characters quite solidly, especially Nevio Wendt plays an excellent Peter Shaw. But especially when they interact together, they seem terribly stiff at times, which of course also affects the dynamics of the scenes. As the playing time increases, the trio gradually comes together – but you don't buy their role as a team that has been friends and close-knit for years until the end.
What role does the masked phantom play?
In addition, the resolution is surprisingly bumpy. Not only fans of the original are likely to stumble upon some massive changes to the original, but also in the context of the film, certain explanations seem a bit too far-fetched for what is essentially a very down-to-earth case. In the general hustle and bustle of the final act, not every loose end is explained completely conclusively – you have to piece it together to a certain extent who has eliminated who and for what reason.
Conclusion: “The three ??? and the Carpathian Dog” is likely to warm the hearts of many fans of the long-running series, because you can see the love of those responsible for the project for the world of Rocky Beach sleuths. And even if there is still room for improvement in the interaction between the main actors, the adaptation of one of the absolute classic cases has laid a successful foundation for another part. So fans can already look forward to “The Three ??? – Island of the Dead”!