Parents' Guide to The Thursday Murder Club

This eagerly anticipated adaptation of the beloved book by Richard Osman does a good job of capturing the charm, warmth, and zesty humor of its source material. With director Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone) at the helm and an impressive A-list cast—Mirren, Brosnan, Kingsley, Imrie—The Thursday Murder Club transports viewers to the idyllic British countryside populated with curious clues and likable characters. Imrie's Joyce describes herself and Mirren's Elizabeth as "bright-eyed, feisty old ladies," which is a stereotype both Elizabeth (who demands she never say that again) and the story in general tip on its head. Mirren's smart, no-nonsense character definitely steals the show, while Imrie injects a quiet warmth and sparkle. But the quartet are all in fine form here. Brosnan's casting may confuse fans who know Ron as a tattooed trade unionist portrayed as a little rougher around the edges in the book, but the actor's charm is undeniable, and he and Kingsley together make for a dynamic duo whenever they're together on-screen. His casting also allows for some playful Bond references for the sharp-eyed and -eared. It lags slightly in places, and at two hours is a little overlong, but this is a successful jump from page to screen that leaves a promising door open for future adaptations from the series.