Netflix viewers have been urged to watch a ‘perfect’ crime comedy that stars the ‘best actress of our times’.
It follows the recent letdown surrounding The Thursday Murder Club’s release.
The adaptation of Richard Osman’s bestselling novel has finally arrived on the streaming service.
Yet it hasn’t received the enthusiastic response many expected, with numerous fans voicing their dissatisfaction with the release.
Critics have echoed similar sentiments, though at present it maintains a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That figure is likely to fluctuate as additional reviews emerge.
Empire magazine awarded it merely two stars, stating: “Maybe this would hit the spot for a Sunday-night sofa slump but it’s more patronising than perceptive when it comes to portraying ageing. As disappointing as a stale scone.”
Meanwhile, The Mirror’s Katie Palmer cautioned that those who had relished the book might find themselves feeling let down after viewing the film adaptation, reports the Mirror.
This comes despite the impressive talent both in front of and behind the camera, with Chris Columbus at the helm and featuring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Sir Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie in leading roles.
She penned: “I desperately wanted the film to be brilliant…but was heartbroken when, after watching it, I realised it just wasn’t meant to be and the book should have been left alone. What could have been an emotionally hard-hitting and captivating cinematic experience turned out to be, in my opinion, a cringeworthy cosy crime drama.”
However, the beauty of streaming is that there are endless alternatives to help soothe this disappointment. One such option for those in search of a unique murder mystery packed with star power is See How They Run.
Regrettably, you’ll need to switch streaming platforms as the film is exclusively available on Disney+. Set against the backdrop of 1950s London, plans for a film adaptation of a blockbuster play come to an abrupt end when a key crew member is brutally murdered.
A jaded inspector and an enthusiastic young constable are assigned to the case, finding themselves embroiled in a perplexing whodunit within the glitzy yet seedy world of underground theatre, risking their own safety to investigate the enigmatic homicide.
The film, much like Thursday Murder Club, is teeming with talent. Its star-studded cast includes Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, Ruth Wilson, Reece Shearsmith and Harris Dickinson.
It holds a similar Rotten Tomatoes rating to the new Netflix film, but more critics were won over by its execution of the central mystery.
It proudly flaunts its Agatha Christie influences and is a must-watch for whodunnit aficionados. One fan suggests that one of the film’s leads may leave you questioning ‘Helen who?’
They said: “Wonderful experience. It’s hard to do murder mystery and add comedy to it but, this movie is the perfect example of how to do it. The jokes are subtle that makes you smile throughout the movie and performance of Saoirse Ronan as Constable Stalker is the most pleasing. Saoirse is probably the best actress of our times.”
Thursday Murder Club is streaming on Netflix and See How They Run is streaming on Disney+