In an upscale retirement village, former trauma nurse Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie) is invited into a club consisting of other retirees who solve cold cases; then, a fresh murder challenges them.

This adaptation of Richard Osman’s novel shows its weakest link: the mystery is somewhat ill-focused and not terribly interesting. But it’s diverting enough throughout both the book and this movie, greatly helped by boatloads of charm and a cast of irresistible characters, who are brought to life by a star-studded gang who are clearly having fun.

Borderline too silly at times, but we’ll allow it.

2025-U.S.-U.K. 118 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Chris Columbus. Novel: Richard Osman. Cast: Helen Mirren (Elizabeth Best), Pierce Brosnan (Ron Ritchie), Ben Kingsley (Ibrahim Arif), Celia Imrie (Joyce Meadowcroft), David Tennant, Jonathan Pryce, Richard E. Grant.

Trivia: Co-produced by Columbus.