The Thursday Murder Club is the Comedic Crime Story We Needed on Netflix
As fun, entertaining, and intriguing as The Thursday Murder Club is, the movie has a much deeper message that is very clear from the beginning.
No matter what one thinks about The Thursday Murder Club, one cannot deny that the acting is impeccable. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie lead the cast of the film, setting the tone for the perfection of each performance delivered. Even those who grace our screens for a few minutes have been perfectly cast in their roles.
The storyline and the characters themselves do a great job of introducing who they are and what is happening. Even if viewers have no idea the movie is based on a book series, they will immediately understand the world they’re joining. The original trio (Mirren, Brosnan, and Kingsley) introduces itself as the Thursday Murder Club, giving us the perfect introduction to their friendship and the reality they are living in.
As they invite Joyce (Imrie) to join their group and then tell Donna De Freitas (Naomi Ackie) everything about the retirement home, the viewers learn about every key character and their relevance to the story. Every detail shown on screen, every clue, and every word emitted by the characters means something. Nothing is said or done at random because every loose end is tied in the end.
The introduction of the case Penny worked on when she was young isn’t just an intro to what and who the Thursday Murder Club are. In the end, it is the case that ties it all together. If they hadn’t been working that case, they wouldn’t have been able to uncover Ian Ventham's (David Tennant) murderer. But if Bogdan (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) hadn’t uncovered the remains buried on top of the casket, then Stephen (Jonathan Pryce) wouldn’t have solved the case before the club.
While all these details are important and make the movie come together, the four main characters are what keep viewers entertained. Although the chemistry between these four is perfect, their personalities are distinctly different. If we’re honest, that’s what makes the club work. Ibrahim and Ron are on two completely different spectrums of aging men. Ibrahim is put together, keeps his dignity, and always looks professional. Ron isn’t afraid to get dirty, be messy, and make himself very loud.
Elizabeth and Joyce are also on opposite ends of womanhood. The showcase of women’s right to choose who and what they want to be allows women to take different paths and still respect and care for one another. Elizabeth is a former MI6 agent, while Joyce is a mom who put her career on pause for a little while to raise her children and be a wife. But it is because they are different that their friendship works. They each bring something special to the club.
Nevertheless, Helen Mirren’s character (and performance) is what keeps the team together. Elizabeth is the heart, soul, and temperament of the club. Without her taking the lead, it would be difficult for the rest of them to keep the team together and solve the cases. While everyone brings something to the table, it is she who keeps the table organized. As Stephen puts it, “You look like the Queen.” Not only is this the perfect reference to Mirren’s iconic role, but it is also the perfect reference to who she is in the club and in the film.
As fun, entertaining, and intriguing as The Thursday Murder Club is, the movie has a much deeper message that is very clear from the beginning. The film focuses on talking about what life is like when you start aging and you’re faced with the challenges of losing your partner (in more than one way) and finding people to support you. While these topics are generally discussed in a negative and sad light, the film does so by adding a positive and light spin.
Yes, Joyce has lost her husband, Elizabeth is dealing with her husband’s diagnosis, and Penny is in hospice. But even with those circumstances, what stands out the most is the bond these characters can build with one another, even after having lived multiple lives. The Thursday Murder Club members are an inspiration to anyone who fears growing old. They can find love, friendship, and comfort even when society is telling them their lives should be over.
If crime and comedy with a pinch of perfect acting is what you are looking for, Netflix delivers exactly that with The Thursday Murder Club.
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