Chris Columbus has adapted the first of the four bestselling books in Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club series into a film, and it’s a frustrating affair that would have played out better as a mini-series. The four core members of the macabrely monikered gang, who live in Coopers Chase retirement village, are given short shrift as they search for multiple killers from cold cases and the present day. Helen Mirren’s ex-spy Elizabeth Best is the only one to feel properly shaded in. 

Pierce Brosnan appears as Ron Ritchie and is badly cast in the role. From Ron’s description in the book, and the fact that he’s a staunch West Ham supporter, someone like Ray Winstone would have made more sense. Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif doesn’t get very much to do, aside from act a little uptight and get up to a modicum of mischief. Celia Imrie gives her portrayal of Joyce Meadowcroft ample warmth and wit, and her dynamic with Mirren is spot on. Indeed, Mirren has great chemistry with everyone, including Jonathan Pryce who plays her husband Stephen, and Naomi Ackie’s ex-Scotland Yard copper, Donna De Freitas. 

There’s charm in the relationships, but some characters are caricatures, and the adapted screenplay by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote has bewilderingly butchered certain storylines from the original novel. There’s a sense that important scenes have been removed for a rushed two-hour running time which leaves characters to play catch-up for the audience with tedious expositional dialogue.

The Thursday Murder Club is available now on Netflix.