Richard Osman was actually a moderator of a quiz show at the British broadcaster BBC before he had the idea for a book after visiting a luxurious residential complex for senior citizens. His manuscript around aged criminalist, which was initially developed over a period of 18 months, was so popular that in spring 2019 ten publishers entered a bitter bidding dispute. This also caused a sensation beyond the Atlantic, which is why Steven Spielberg's production company Amblin Entertainment secured the filming rights against a dozen competitors before the publication of “The Thursday Murder Club”. The novel debut released in autumn 2020 also fell like a bomb on the book market: together with the three sequels, more than ten million copies have been over the counter.
Hardly surprising as that the bestseller adaptation now started exclusively on Netflix could also draw from the full when it comes to budget and gather a whole series of top-class old stars beyond 70 in the cast. Under the sovereign direction of Chris Columbus (“Harry Potter and the Stone of the Weisen”), Helen Mirren (“Golda”), Ben Kingsley (“Schindler's List”), ex-Bonddarter Pierce Brosnan and Celia Imrie (“Bridget Jones: Crazy for him”) give a wonderful step in the crime comedy Hobby criminal officer.
Netflix obviously spared no costs and efforts during the line -up!
Three hobby detectives of the luxurious senior citizens' complex Coopers Chase meet weekly for the title -giving “Thursday Murder Club”. The psychiatrist Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley), the former union leader Ron (Pierce Brosnan) and the retired MI6 agent Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) are currently investigating a mystery murder in a Cold Case, which was 50 years ago, and soon received support from newcomer Joyce (Celia Imrie).
But then the shock: At a meeting, Coopers-Chase co-owner Ian Ventham (David Tennant) announced that luxury apartments are to be created on the property and the current senior citizens should be set in front of you. When Ventham's business partner Tony Curran (Geoff Bell) is found a short time later and the police initially tapped in the dark, the stubborn pensioner quartet switches into the investigation …
A quartet to fall in love with
In the style of one Cosy-Crimically, “The Thursday Murder Club” relies on the likeable quirkness and the spelly peculiarities of his protagonists, who, in the case of the fairly exciting, even somewhat in the background, provide numerous punch line. Pierce Brosnan is not too good as a sports enthusiastic “Rampensau” figure even for weird appearances if he checks a fucked-up alcoholic with the remains of the meal in the checkered retro wedding suit to defend his son in the police station or, a simple-minded police officer. Ben Kingsley, with a leaders, gives the distinguished soul doctor with a notepad at the attack, who has already cited Carl Gustav Jung. And Celia Imrie is a thieving pleasure to get information as an extremely domestic over-mom by captivating the police with their numerous cake and cake creations.
However, the most proves that at the time of filming in the summer of 2024, 79-year-old Helen Mirren that she is far from being part of the old iron. As a tough and sharp-tongued ex-agent, who is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's heroine Miss Marple, she repeatedly impresses with a razor-sharp combination and cheeky understatement. For example, when she is heating through the city together with the incredulous police Donna de Freitas (Naomi Ackie) to a freshly exposed main suspect. Always with accurately combed hairstyle, Joyce also gets a compliment from her demented husband (Jonathan Pryce) when he compares her to the English queen (for whose representation Helen Mirren in “Die Queen” actually won the Oscar).
Oscar winner Helen Mirren even stands out from the consistently well -placed cast.
The plot enriched with many turns can not quite enough for the water, but in addition to the bizarre characters, is not quite enough for the water even due to the bizarre characters. The numerous rooms in the extensive residential complex of Coopers Case are so detailed with floral wallpaper, framed pictures, old black and white photographs, furniture in pastel colors or nipples, but also so individually, so that you feel quickly as at home. Truly cosy even.
Conclusion: With a lot of wit and even more quirks, the top-class pensioner troops loosens her first case with the tough Helen Mirren. With this Cosy thriller, Chris Columbus once more family-friendly entertainment of the best variety.