This is the type of film I’d watch in a heartbeat just for the cast! Plus, I have an affinity for films about elderly pensioners banding together for a cause, or in this case, a mystery to solve.

Four lively retirees reside in Coopers Chase, a posh retirement village nestled in the English countryside. Helen Mirren‘s character, Elizabeth, heads the Thursday Murder Club, which mainly investigates cold case murders just for kicks. The film kicks off in 1973 with a dramatic scene where a woman is hurled out of a window, a knife protruding from her chest. Elizabeth’s ex-cop friend had provided the details, but she’s now comatose in hospice. Soon, they recruit a former nurse with amazing baking skills, Joyce (Celia Imrie), to join former union leader Ron (Pierce Brosnan) and former psychiatrist Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley).

Their lighthearted sleuthing takes an exciting twist when they stumble upon a genuine whodunit after one of the owners of Cooper Chase, Tony Curran (Geoff Bell), is murdered. Greedy co-owner Ian Ventham (David Tennant) wants to transition the home into luxury condos, which irritates the residents, especially the TMC members. The team manages to recruit a local constable, Donna (Naomi Ackie), by cleverly deceiving DCI Chris (Daniel Mays) into getting her involved in the murder case.

The investigation is pretty relaxed and approached in a playful way, but it’s enjoyable with this cast, particularly Mirren, whose past isn’t disclosed until later. However, her keen insight and determination instantly made me suspect she might be a former spy. Speaking of spies, it’s amusing to see James Bond Brosnan in the same movie as one of his Bond villains, Jonathan Pryce, though they barely have a scene together here. I wish Sean Bean had been cast in Bell’s role, which would make a trio of Bond reunions.

Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote‘s script is witty and sprightly, and the film moves along at a lively pace. It even gives a nod to the late British queen via Dame Mirren, who won an Oscar portraying her in The Queen. At one point. Elizabeth donned an outfit reminiscent of the late monarch, which brings a smile to her dementia-stricken husband, Stephen (Pryce). The four lead actors are fantastic, and the supporting cast also has some memorable scenes. Tom Ellis plays Jason, a former boxing champ now stuck in reality TV due to injury, and he just so happens to be Ron’s son. Richard E. Grant later shows up as a crime boss, Bobby Tanner, who now owns a flower shop. Henry Lloyd-Hughes is quite memorable as a Polish immigrant, Bogdan, and his interaction with Mirren and Pryce is really heartfelt.

Based on a mystery book series by Richard Osman, it’s directed by Chris Columbus, known for comedies such as Home Alone, Mrs. Doubtfire, Nine Months, and a couple of Harry Potter movies. Coopers Chase itself looks like the Hogwarts of retirement homes, featuring rich wooden textures, antique decor, and a stunning garden that, strangely enough, has llamas. I haven’t read Osman’s book, so I can’t say how loyal it is to the book, but there are enough twists and surprising turns to satisfy mystery fans. The vibe reminds me a bit of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with its mostly British cast. The cast is absolutely stellar, packed with Oscar winners and nominees. Even the composer, Thomas Newman, boasts an impressive 15 Oscar nominations. His soft yet lively score complements the story nicely.

I’ve always enjoyed Agatha Christie-type comic murder mysteries, and the cast elevates the material. I hope Netflix continues to produce this comedy mystery, as there are more of Osman’s murder mystery book series; the fifth one drops later in September. This series offers a fun alternative to Disney’s HULU’s Only Murders in the Building, which also features a star-studded cast. I haven’t been too impressed with the latest season of OMITB, though, since it feels a bit too flashy and over the top. I appreciate how the mysteries in Thursday Murder Club relate well to the characters’ lives in the retirement community, and there’s a lot of heart and compassion, which is a nice change since murder mystery films often lean towards being too dark and violent.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish. Props to Columbus for making great use of his stellar cast.

Have you seen The Thursday Murder Club? What did you think?