As summer comes to a close, Netflix delivers its latest film, an adaptation of Richard Osman’s international bestseller, “The Thursday Murder Club.” Chris Columbus directs the movie from a script by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote.
At its core, “The Thursday Murder Club” is a surprisingly sharp, funny, and at times heartfelt mystery about friendship, aging, and the thrill of the chase. Our amateur sleuths are a retirement village dream team. Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) exudes her trademark steel, the kind of woman who could order a drink and solve a crime in the same breath.
Ron (Pierce Brosnan) is swaggering and brash, but Brosnan wisely leans into charm rather than caricature. Ben Kingsley plays Ibrahim with a delicate mix of vulnerability and brilliance, grounding the club with quiet wisdom. And then there’s Celia Imrie’s Joyce, whose diary-like narration provides both humor and poignancy, making her the group’s secret weapon.
What begins as a hobby—solving unsolved murders over tea and biscuits—turns deadly serious when a fresh corpse appears close to home. From there, the plot morphs into a proper whodunit, filled with red herrings, eccentric suspects, and witty banter. Columbus directs with brisk pacing, never letting the mystery feel bogged down.
The screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote stays true to Osman’s voice, balancing the procedural elements with warm character work. The dialogue sparkles, particularly in the scenes where the retirees outwit police officers half their age.
Beyond the mystery, the film finds its heart in how it treats its characters. Instead of mocking them for their age, it celebrates their experience, resilience, and ability to outthink everyone else in the room. Mirren and company aren’t playing for cheap laughs—they’re showing us that life doesn’t lose its spark just because the hair turns gray.
Visually, the film leans cozy rather than gritty. The English countryside setting is a character in itself, full of manicured lawns and hidden secrets. Think Midsomer Murders but with a modern Netflix sheen.
By the time the credits roll, “The Thursday Murder Club” proves itself a crowd-pleaser. It’s light enough for a Sunday afternoon watch, yet clever enough to satisfy mystery fans. With such a winning ensemble, don’t be surprised if Netflix launches another franchise.
Final Grade: B+
“The Thursday Murder Club” is available to stream on Netflix tomorrow.
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After months of anticipation, Showtime returns viewers to the Windy City for one last hurrah as “The Chi” kicks off its final season. In the past, viewers longed to escape from characters disappearing and drifting storylines. However, the show has always kept me invested.
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