OUR MOVIE REVIEW:

Based on the New York Times bestselling book, Chris Columbus’ The Thursday Murder Club is a charming and enjoyable ensemble mystery that lets its actors do most of the legwork as the case itself may be set on easy difficulty for many. 

Helen Mirren (RED), Pierce Brosnan (Mamma Mia!), Ben Kingsley (Iron Man 3) and Celia Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) are a grand quartet of investigators that try to solve a cold case file from decades back. When the deaths and possible murders start around their humble abode they must work together to solve the mystery and save their apartments before they are torn down for redevelopment. 

Mirren’s Elizabeth is a hardcore detective in her own right, looking for the answer with no deviation. Brosnan’s Ron is a proud father of his former boxer son and former unionist before going into retirement to help solve cases with his friends. Kingsley’s Ibrahim is a retired psychiatrist who uses his techniques of his yesteryear to challenge himself and interpret these cases in an entirely different fashion. Then comes newcomer Joyce, who alongside her skills as a baker hones into her old medical background to give advice on that front. 

Naomi Ackie (Blink Twice) plays Donna de Freitas, a constable who is new in town after transferring from the big city to the countryside. Her superior DCI Chris Hudson (Daniel Mays, 1917) is forced to gain faith in her quickly when the Thursday Murder Club becomes prime consultants after a sudden murder stirs things up. 

David Tennant (Doctor Who) is a nice villainous surprise, although his appearance is unfortunately minimal. Tennant is a cheater in many ways taking advantage of his marriage and the residents of the people living on one of his properties. When he decides against the wishes of his business partner to sell the property, intentions quickly become venomous.  

When the characters are interacting, their bond is incredibly strong and comforting. Every moment we get from them is truly like one of the best episodes of the best character based mystery show on television - take your pick: Sherlock, Psych, Monk… It’s when the mystery dives to the head that the characters are drawn back for the case to take center stage and unfortunately it’s not that fascinating of a resolution. 

Chris Columbus has made some of the most masterful works of nostalgia over the years: Home Alone, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and Mrs. Doubtfire as prime examples. The film instantly obtains the particular charm that is so commonly seen in his pictures, but from a filmmaking standpoint it’s very basic and lacks a flair to pull it away from the weekly mystery serial. The Thursday Murder Club is a series of books and it’s possible if Netflix acts quickly we could have a solid series of films - because while this case may not scratch the whodunnit itch on its own, this cast of four will be more than enough of a draw for yet another file to be opened.