The Thursday Murder Club (2025) - Film Review

      The Thursday Murder Club, 2025.

      Directed by Chris Columbus.

      Featuring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, Celia Imrie, David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Richard E. Grant, Tom Ellis, Geoff Bell, Paul Freeman, Sarah Niles, Ingrid Oliver, Joseph Marcell, Martin Bishop, Ruth Sheen, Imogen Leaver, Will Stevens, David Garlick, Gary Bates, Shane David-Joseph, Susan Kirkby, Richenda Carey, Jacqueline Clarke, Stan Pretty, David Burton, Rashford Angus, and Anah Ruddy.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A group of four spirited retirees enjoys investigating cold case murders for leisure, but their lighthearted amateur sleuthing takes an exciting twist when they find themselves entangled in a genuine murder mystery.

      As someone who often finds stories featuring elderly groups unappealing due to filmmakers treating them as mere sources of cringe-worthy humor and showcasing their ignorance of modern technology, I must admit that The Thursday Murder Club triggered some of those concerns while simultaneously appearing to provide a remedy to such dreadful attempts at comedy.

      For starters, it’s helmed by experienced director Chris Columbus, who, despite having strayed far from the heights of Home Alone or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in terms of quality—having directed recent flops like Pixels and The Christmas Chronicles sequel—still inspires a degree of optimism thanks to the sincerity and cinematic magic present in his work. This bodes well for a film like this, suggesting that it may treat its older characters with respect and tell a genuine story without diminishing their club.

      With a commendable ensemble of well-known and cherished British actors spanning different generations, it's encouraging to note that, for the most part, The Thursday Murder Club (from a screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, adapted from Richard Osman's book) offers these characters depth, personality, and emotionally resonant moments. While it may not deliver the sheer fun implied by its title, it’s a delight to watch these actors unravel a mystery while enjoying themselves.

      The group convenes every Thursday in their retirement home to discuss cold cases, comprising a diverse cast of individuals, including widows, divorcees, and former nurses, who have a talent for collaborating and piecing together clues. Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) leads the group while also caring for her husband (Jonathan Pryce), who is in the early stages of dementia. Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) uses mathematical principles to analyze crime scene questions (for example, calculating if a journey from point A to point B is feasible within a certain timeframe). Ron (Pierce Brosnan) has expertise in assessing injuries and determining causes of death since his son Jason (Tom Ellis) became a celebrated MMA champion. One member, Penny (Susan Kirkby), is currently in hospice care, which facilitates the inclusion of the newest resident, Joyce (Celia Imrie), whose background as a former nurse proves invaluable.

      While somewhat disappointing and surprisingly strong, The Thursday Murder Club shifts focus from their current cold case (involving a woman from the 1970s who was stabbed before falling out of a window, with her boyfriend cleared of wrongdoing before mysteriously disappearing) to an actual deadly investigation sparked by a contentious public dispute over the land where the retirement home is located, which leads to a body being discovered. Three shareholders control the land, with Tony Curran (Geoff Bell) determined to stop Ian Ventham (David Tennant) and his associate (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) from demolishing the homes to construct an event center and exhuming bodies while converting the cemetery into something more profitable. Meanwhile, their partner, a notorious criminal named Bobby (Richard E. Grant), has been absent for years but may hold crucial information to help solve the emerging mystery.

      Conveniently, the club connects with police officer Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie), who is initially reluctant but eager to leave her mundane traffic stop duties to engage in some real action and prove her worth to her colleagues, including the inept DCI Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays), who readily gives up vital information for tasty cakes. There's an appealing underdog aspect to this club and their capabilities, which carries the film quite far, even if there aren’t many surprises concerning the case. The one notable twist is somewhat absurd, but it too arises from character-driven moments, refusing to view any of them as mere comedic fodder.

      Even when The Thursday Murder Club occasionally taps into the humor of elderly obliviousness (like not understanding what “WTF” means), it's relatable without being overly exaggerated. The film allows these characters moments to reflect on their past and discuss their present, their futures hanging in the balance based on this case’s resolution. It’s a charming, light film that treats its characters with dignity and features a sufficiently engaging mystery. This alone offers ample