Thursday Murder Club review: Cosy crime drama will leave you in tears

From Agatha Christie to Anthony Horowitz, cosy crime has steadily become one of Britain’s biggest exports. There’s nothing quite like a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a countryside vista with a side of murder.

That sums up Richard Osman’s highly anticipated adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club in a nutshell - when you also throw in four elderly amateur detectives and dodgy property developers. Plus a few emotional support llamas, which you may need yourself by the end.

Based on the Pointless star’s hit novel of the same name, the film follows four pensioners living in the idyllic Cooper’s Chase retirement village, passing the time by digging up cold cases to solve.

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But when a property developer who co-owns Cooper’s Chase is suddenly murdered just as his business partner plans to bulldoze the property, they have a mystery that’s literally close-to-home on their hands.

Since the film rights were snatched up by Steven Spielberg before the book was even published, fans have been itching to see the fictional village of Fairhaven come to life - and they’re not the only ones judging by its star-studded cast.

Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie - referred to as the “Mount Rushmore of British acting giants” by its director Chris Columbus - fizz with chemistry as the four main leads.

There’s no one better to bring the role of retired spy Elizabeth to life than Dame Helen, while Ben Kingsley is a delight as softly-spoken intellectual and ex-psychiatrist Ibrahim.

Pierce Brosnan shows off his comedic side as the headstrong former union activist Ron Richie - although his East End twang can be hard to detect, particularly when sharing scenes with his on-screen son Tom Ellis who adopts a stronger accent.

However, it’s Celia Imrie who often steals the show as retired nurse Joyce - with her comedic timing and unexpected one-liners that inject the film with its frequent chuckleworthy moments. One particular scene, where Elizabeth interrupts Joyce’s life-drawing class to deliver a case update, left the premiere’s audience squealing with laughter when they caught a glimpse of her canvas.

It’s also a treat to see Helen Mirren and Celia Imrie reunite over 20 years on from hit Calendar Girls. Instead of bearing all for the WI, they’re now sharing tinnies on a bus and swearing in front of children - but they’re just as captivating to watch share the screen together.

It wouldn’t be a Richard Osman adaptation without a few classic references and the Thursday Murder Club is rich with them. There’s even a nod to Helen Mirren’s titular Oscar-winning role in 2006’s The Queen that proves to be the ultimate royal cross-over (she shares the scene with Jonathan Pryce, who played Prince Philip in Netflix’s The Crown).

Although look out for a few unfortunately-timed references - Celebrity MasterChef gets a mention, while Dancing on Ice is a recurring backdrop with Ron’s boxer son Jason a contestant on the now-axed ITV show.

For all its star power, the Thursday Murder Club isn’t without its faults. While some plot lines were overexplained and drawn out, other big reveals felt rushed and anticlimatic - particularly towards the end of the film.

The murder mystery itself felt slow-paced at times and appeared to tick many of the classic cosy crime boxes that we’ve seen in countless other series and films, however you’ll quickly fall in love with the characters - and if you’re like me, find yourself surprisingly moved.

While the film will make you cackle throughout, it may leave you grabbing for the tissues with its tearjerker ending.

The Thursday Murder Club may not make for revolutionary viewing and can feel slow in places, but it undoubtedly make for a solidly delightful Friday night watch that will make you want to officially check into Cooper's Chase yourself.

The Thursday Murder Club is out in cinemas from today and available on Netflix next Friday.