'Thursday Murder Club' Is a Delightful Mystery with an A-Plus Cast

The Thursday Murder Club is the latest film drop on Netflix, and it's a decadent treat for Telly Visions readers. The movie is adapted from Richard Osman's debut bestselling novel about a group of pensioners who like solving cold cases from their luxurious retirement home. The cast includes Helen Mirren (1923), Ben Kingsley (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), Pierce Brosnan (MobLand), and Celia Imrie (Trying) as the central quartet. So off the bat, we have a kooky, cozy mystery to be solved by U.K. icons. I imagine that at least half of you have already left to put it on, because you don't need more convincing.

For those who have stayed, I would be delighted to reinforce why The Thursday Murder Club is worth your time. Sure, we'd watch that foursome do a dramatic reading of the phone book, but The Thursday Murder Club gives each of them a fun character to dig into that not only equips them with unique skills helpful in solving crimes, but also creates a fun dynamic within the group.

Mirren plays Elizabeth Best, a former spy who is all business and hasn't lost her dogged ability to chase down a lead. Kingsley plays Ibrahim, a "confirmed bachelor" and former psychiatrist who would do anything for his friends. Brosnan steps in as Ron Ritchie, a retired union organizer with a useful flair for the dramatic. Imrie is Joyce, a new resident of Cooper's Chase whose former nursing career and current baking skills make her an ideal addition to the club.