The great British whodunnit that is just the comfort nosh you need 

An all-star cast from the British Isles enjoy themselves thoroughly in this glossy, cosy crime film based on the Richard Osman bestseller.

After the death of her husband, retired nurse Joyce (Calendar Girls’ Celia Imrie) moves into a luxurious retirement home – Coopers Chase in Kent, England. There she stumbles upon the Thursday Murder Club, a group of fellow pensioners who meet every Thursday in the conservatory to solve cold cases for fun. Sharp and shrewd Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) has a vague past in international affairs; salt-of-the-earth Ron (Pierce Brosnan) used to be a labour-union leader; and prim and sensitive Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) is a retired psychiatrist. Seeing Joyce’s medical background as an asset, the group invites her to join on a trial basis. 

Meanwhile, on the brink of an expensive divorce, Coopers Chase co-owner Ian Ventham (Good Omens’ David Tennant) plans to bulldoze the property and build luxury flats. But standing in his way is his partner Tony Curran (Geoff Bell), a one-time gangster who won’t hear of kicking out all the old-timers since his beloved Aunt Maud (Ruth Sheen) is also a resident. When Tony turns up bludgeoned to death, the Thursday Murder Club jumps on the case with a little help from Constable Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie from Blink Twice), who’s new to the area and eager to show the police boys’ club what she’s made of. 

Everyone’s a suspect

If you’re look­ing for a gritty, realistic crime drama, this is­­n’t the film for you. The Thursday Murder Club follows in the tradition of Agatha Christie’s whodunnits usually set in grand country houses where every one of the residents is a suspect. 

A lot of enjoyment and satisfaction comes from the fact that the amateur sleuths are disregarded because of their age but show up the stolid local police force at every turn. There’s also a mild sense of danger and quite a few clever twists, all delivered with a twinkle in the eye and gentle wit. It’s basically Midsomer Murders with a bigger budget, a sharper script and a starrier cast. 

Veteran stars Mirren and Kingsley are as reliable as ever in carrying the movie, while British film industry stalwart Imrie offers her usual solid support. Fans of UK TV will enjoy spotting all the familiar faces in supporting roles, while Ackie sparkles as the earnest young cop who grudgingly earns the respect of her boss (Daniel Mays), and Tennant creates a suitably sleazy villain with gusto. Rounding out the cast is Lucifer star Tom Ellis as Ron’s retired boxer son, and Jonathan Pryce (The Crown) as Elizabeth’s husband, Stephen, who’s suffering from dementia. 

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the movie is Brosnan’s scene-stealing performance as the rough and ready but decent Ron, who’s a world away from the suave and somewhat cold characters the former James Bond usually plays. Brosnan clearly had fun playing against type, and his warm-hearted performance is a highlight. 

Broad appeal

Director Chris Columbus, known for family-friendly hits such as Home Alone (1990), Mrs Doubtfire (1993) and the first two Harry Potter movies (2001 and 2002), knows how to handle ensemble casts in a gently humorous, polished mainstream film that will appeal to a broad audience. His idyllic England filled with endless sunny days and an opulent retirement home complete with massive, beautifully furnished apart­ments is almost as fantastical as the world of Harry Potter. 

But the movie treats old people not with condescension but rather with empathy and as the main characters in their own stories, and for that it should be commended. Sequels based on the next three books in Osman’s series would be very welcome. DM

The Thursday Murder Club is on Netflix now. 

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.