For many moviegoers today, the claim that a film “feels like a Netflix movie” would be a sign not to watch it. Out of the hundreds of films the streaming service releases each year, the ones that rise to popularity follow a pattern: fast-paced comedies starring the same set of actors with mixed attempts at witty humor and questionable writing. Luckily, “The Thursday Murder Club,” Netflix’s latest feature, is not one of those movies. 

Based on author Richard Osman’s bestselling novels, “The Thursday Murder Club” follows a group of four elderly retirees, Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) at the Cooper’s Chase retirement home, which is much more glamorous and chic than expected. 

Every Thursday, the group meets to solve cold cases, pinning crime scene photos and evidence onto a stereotypical board with red string. When one of their fellow residents is murdered, they take it upon themselves to solve the case.

At first, the film seems like it’s going to fall into the Netflix trap. The exposition is fast and obvious, with characters speaking unusual and stilted dialogue for the sake of catching viewers up on their dynamics. But once the murder happens, the film picks up the pace, bringing it closer in feeling to cozy Netflix hits such as “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022) and “Bridgerton.”

At its core, the idea of four British 70-plus-year-olds solving a murder is entertaining and intriguing alone, but the murder itself is intricate enough to keep viewers invested yet not confused. 

Director Chris Columbus’ experience in adaptation becomes evident. He skillfully warps a detailed and winding written tale into something coherent for the screen. Columbus avoids leaving annoying red herrings for the audience, only dropping clues subtly and with enough scarcity to enhance the whodunit experience.

What takes this film over the average mark is its cast. Osman’s story gives these all-star actors ample time to play and talk. Mirren and Imrie make for an incredible, riveting duo as the dry, sarcastic former spy and the bright, energetic former nurse. The two are yin and yang, distinct characters complementing each other. 

Brosnan and Kingsley form the other pair. Brosnan plays the outspoken, honorable, and fiercely loving Ron masterfully, and Kingsley’s calm and polished yet still hilarious Ibrahim creates the perfect balance. Even with the obvious archetypes of these characters, the stars bring a high level of nuance and depth that isn’t regularly seen in streaming films.

While it’s no surprise that these four acclaimed performers would make the most of these vivid parts, every actor — no matter how small the part — fully realizes their respective character’s potential. If it’s possible to have five scene-stealers in a film, that’s what happens here. 

David Tennant unleashes an angry, arrogant performance as businessman Ian Ventham. Jonathan Pryce’s portrayal of Stephen, Elizabeth’s husband, who is sick with dementia, is sweet, unexpected and heartbreaking simultaneously. 

Even Joseph Marcell, who played Geoffrey Butler in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” makes a small but memorable appearance as Father Mackie. Altogether, this cast resonates as real and familiar.

The main fault of “The Thursday Murder Club” lies in its length. Alongside writers Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote, Columbus ends up maintaining much of the book’s original story, which works in terms of narrative but at times slows the movie down. The film’s best moments are when the cast members showcase their chemistry and inject humor into the mystery. In moments of pure investigation and evidence building, it’s hard to maintain the same energy. 

One of the larger side plots, involving Penny (Susan Kirkby), a former member of the Thursday Murder Club, and her husband John (Paul Freeman), brings depth and sadness to the story but at times feels out of place with the ongoing murder mystery. 

Overall, “The Thursday Murder Club” is a delight. The charming performances and well-thought-out story make for a cozy and uplifting two hours. This is the type of movie that works for Netflix: something whimsical and pretty that you want to watch under a blanket with your whole family. On top of that, as Naomi Ackie’s PC De Freitas says in the film, “It’ll make you look forward to getting old.”