When you hear a film is both a Netflix original and a book adaptation, you typically don’t have high hopes it’s going to be anything extraordinary. Despite this, “The Thursday Murder Club” blew past my expectations and kept me entertained throughout the entire movie.

Originally a novel written by #1 New York Times bestselling author Richard Osman in 2020, “The Thursday Murder Club” is a fun spin on the classic whodunit genre. Despite being a relatively new mystery series, there are already five books in Osman’s series.

Instead of being young, true-crime-loving detectives who solve mysteries, this group of investigators consists of elders living at Cooper’s Chase retirement community.

They’re definitely not who you would expect to be solving murders for fun, but they know how to get the job done.

The film begins with a gruesome photograph of a woman lying dead in the road with a knife stuck through her chest. Three members of the Thursday Murder Club, Joyce, Jon, and Ibrahim, are hypothesizing the details of the dead woman’s murder.

The photograph is from an old cold case, which is what the Thursday Murder Club specializes in solving. However, when a real murder case lands on the very doorstep the club calls home, they realize they might have to use their skills to solve something a lot more personal.

A money-hungry investor who wants to repurpose the land Cooper’s Chase sits on, a mysterious landscaper, and an ex-professional athlete suffering from a career-ending injury collide with the Thursday Murder Club.

The seniors quickly realize things aren’t what they seem at the retirement community.

The plot intrigued me from the start, and I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it as much as I was. The mystery was compelling and pulled me into the story, and I couldn’t wait to figure out who the culprit really was. There were plenty of twists and turns that kept me on my toes and the edge of my seat.

And yet, what really sold the movie for me was the refreshing input of the characters and the humour throughout. While the basis of the film is a thrilling mystery, the comedy shines throughout and gives the film a refreshing feeling.

The star-studded cast, including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, truly brought their characters to life. They were so dynamic and lifelike that I found myself both laughing and crying along with them.

The witty, feisty characters  brought this movie together. I especially liked Mirren’s character, Elizabeth, for her love of baking and the fresh sense of humor she brought to the team.

She added a sense of young energy to the group, despite all of them being well into retirement, which starkly contrasted with Joyce, played by Imrie. Joyce is the direct opposite of Elizabeth tough, witty, and demanding of answers. She made me wish I could be that cool when I’m old and gray.

Another aspect of the movie I really enjoyed was the scenery. The retirement home is a gorgeous castle located in Kent, England. Cooper’s Chase is always seen as beautifully decorated, bustling with activity, and dancing with bright colors and lighting.

This peaceful retirement community contrasts with the underlying mystery at the center, highlighting the difference between the two worlds.

If anything, the movie has inspired me to consider reading the source material.

If you’re looking for a thrilling, fun movie to watch, “The Thursday Murder Club” delivers on both counts.

The film is currently available to stream on Netflix.