A One Mann’s Movies review of “The Thursday Murder Club” (2025, 3.5*, 12A).
Given the crowds of over 50’s that were squashed into the biggest screen in Everyman Salisbury last night, it seems almost unbelievable that Netflix were originally planning on sending “The Thursday Murder Club” directly to streaming. And I just know (given the performance of previous ‘silver dollar’ films like “The Salt Path“; “The Book Club” and “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry“) that it will not just be the evening performances that will be packed out, but also the matinee showings.
In fact, the decision to only release the film in a limited number of screens across the UK also sounds like a false marketing move: this should have had the widest possibly cinema release like “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” did. If only Netflix were not planning on releasing it to streaming later this week, this box office performance would probably go on for week after week and cinema-owners would be delighted!
But enough of daft marketing decisions. What of the film?
I have seen a lot of other mainstream reviewers savaging the movie. But both myself and the Illustrious Mrs Movie Man really enjoyed it, buoyed along by the pleasure of much jollity and the laughter of a packed cinema audience. Is it bloody Shakespeare? Nope. But in a world of unremitting strife and gloom, it’s a gentle and enjoyable romp occupied by a wonderful array of top British (and Irish!) acting talent.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
New to the vibrant retirement community of Cooper’s Chase, former nurse Joyce (Celia Imrie) is struggling to fit in and make new friends. But then her medical expertise is required by the members of the Thursday Murder Club – a group of three irrepressible pensioners – Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan) and Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) – who all have a set of particular skills honed over eventful lifetimes.
Certification:
UK: 12A; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC web site: “Infrequent strong language, moderate violence, injury detail”.)
Talent:
Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Celia Imrie, Ben Kingsley, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, David Tennant, Paul Freeman, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Tom Ellis, Richard E. Grant, Jonathan Pryce, Geoff Bell.
Directed by: Chris Columbus.
Written by: Katy Brand & Suzanne Heathcote. (Based on the novel by Richard Osman.)
Running Time: 1h 58m.
Summary:
Positives:
- The casting is – in the main – superb.
- There were smiles throughout and a number of really good belly laughs.
- The style really invokes the warm, fuzzy, feelgood vibes of the book.
- Naomi Ackie is wonderful.
Negatives:
- The story is really terrible: somehow amplified more in the film than in the book.
- In a sea of perfect casting, Pierce Brosnan was not how I envisaged Ron.
Full Review of “The Thursday Murder Club”:
Kharmel Cochrane did a fabulous job.
The first ‘attaboy’ in my review must go to Kharmel Cochrane, the film’s casting director, who has really done a sterling job in casting – in the main – the perfect actors for the parts. I assume you, like me, when working through a book play some of the scenes in your mind as you are reading. Well, in virtually every case, the cast chosen almost exactly fit my picture of the book’s characters. Helen Mirren is a perfect choice for the cold and steely Elizabeth; Ben Kingsley is an inspired choice for Ibrahim (in my mind it would either have been Kingsley of F. Murray Abraham for me); and Celia Imrie is also a brilliant choice for Joyce.
Of the four leads, it was only Pierce Brosnan that didn’t quite match my vision of Ron. In my mind I had him more as a sort of Bob Hoskins character. Not that Brosnan doesn’t entertain in the role: he did for me. But his casting was the most jarring.
Outside of these fab-four, the rest of the casting is also superb. In particular, the wonderful Naomi Ackie is terrific as the police constable (with ambition) Donna de Freitas. Her minimalistic facial movements deliver a ton of meaning in every scene she’s in, particularly with the slightly overweight and cake-stuffing DCI Chris Hudson, played in a wonderfully bumbling manner by Daniel Mays. (Given that Hudson and de Freitas in later books become an item (spoilers!) and Hudson loses a ton of weight to achieve that, Mays – according to this article – wore a fat suit for the movie…. presumably partly in expectation of the commissioned sequels!)
But I must acknowledge two of the smaller roles in the film. Firstly, the peerless Jonathan Pryce is absolutely marvellous as Elizabeth’s dementia-afflicted husband Stephen: just a perfect, nuanced and very moving piece of acting. Secondly, it was simply a wonderful surprise to see Paul Freeman – most famously Belloq from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” – on the big screen again after a three year absence.
A feelgood romp that had the audience reacting positively.
Richard Osman’s book was never a serious “whodunnit” in the same way an Agatha Christie novel is. Instead, with very much its tongue in its cheek, it builds up a cosy, very British, set of characters and their inter-relationships that just happens to involve detective work.
Having really enjoyed the book, I had some trepidation that the film would trample all over those ‘warm fuzzies’. But no. I was really impressed that Chris Columbus, the “Harry Potter” and “Home Alone” director, managed to maintain all of that feelgood essence within the film. Although the run-time prevented full exploration of the relationships between the oldies and some of the back-stories of the other characters. (For example, we never really learn that Chris Hudson is comfort-eating because of his recent divorce.) I’ve see comment that this might have better made a short mini-series for that reason.
But I’m glad it was a film and not a straight-to-streaming series. Since this is a movie that is well worth seeing on the big-screen with an appreciative audience as a communal experience. (I can only assume that the press screenings were VERY solemn and grumpy affairs!). There are a number of really good laughs in the film: perhaps the biggest during an al fresco live-model painting scene, where Joyce reveals a lively side to her imagination!
There are also a couple of fun call-backs to the actor’s pasts. In one scene, Elizabeth dons a disguise that harks back to a very famous previous performance by Mirren! And in another, Pierce Brosnan’s Ron Ritchie punches someone with a right hook and then, knowingly, says “You never lose it you know”…. surely a call-back to his Bond days, since it is his son (Tom Ellis) who is the boxer…. not Ron!
Should you downgrade the film’s rating because of the story?
I like Richard Osman. I really do. I was lucky enough to meet him when I was a contestant on “Pointless” a few years back, and he is as lovely a bloke in person as you would expect him to be from his TV appearances. He remains as one of the guests I would invite to a ‘fantasy dinner party’ event. Given his “Thursday Murder Club” books have sold over 10 million copies worldwide, he is now not only a very talented TV producer, podcaster and author, but he is also a very rich TV producer, podcaster and author.
However, that being said, the original Thursday Murder Club book has a plot that is based on a pretty ludicrous coincidence. I probably clocked this when I first read the book, but did not quite register it as so enormously ridiculous. But in the movie form, perhaps because of Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote’s script, or because of the film’s short running time (we must think of the target audiences’ bladders!) the plot twist is presently so suddenly that it generated a “NO! SURELY NOT!” reaction in me that came as a surprise.
Should the film, as a faithful reproduction of the story, be blamed for that? Since I guess a lot of people going to see this will not have read the book, then yes – I think it probably should be.
Summary Thoughts:
My advice would be, don’t listen to the mainstream critics… if you enjoyed the book, then get yourself along to a cinema showing this, if you are lucky enough to have one near you. It’s not perfect. But as an antidote to the current worldwide news cycle, it’s a good way to spend a couple of hours and buck up your spirits.
But, if you want the chance to see this on the big screen (very much recommended), you’d better be quick…. it is set to start streaming on Netflix from this Thursday (28th August), so probably won’t last much beyond the first week in cinemas as a result.
Where to watch?
Trailer for “The Thursday Murder Club”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue_QJDkoTyw.
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