In a shocking blow to one of Hollywood's most celebrated directors, Steven Spielberg's hotly anticipated adaptation of Richard Osman's bestselling novel 'The Thursday Murder Club' has been met with a brutal and damning reception from critics.
The film, which boasts an all-star British cast including Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, has been branded a 'dreary travesty' in a searing review that suggests the project has catastrophically misfired.
A Stark Departure From The Source Material
According to the critique, the movie's fundamental failure lies in its complete departure from the spirit of Osman's witty and charming whodunnit. The review laments the loss of the novel's quintessential English humour, replaced instead with a sombre and overly sentimental tone that alienates the existing fanbase.
The beloved characters from the book, a group of quick-witted retirees investigating crimes from their retirement village, are reportedly stripped of their sharp wit and chemistry, leaving a shell of the personalities readers adored.
All-Star Cast Let Down By Direction
Despite the formidable acting pedigree on display, the report indicates that even veterans like Mirren and Brosnan cannot salvage the project. Their performances are described as lacking the necessary sparkle and camaraderie needed to drive the story, ultimately falling flat under the film's heavy-handed direction.
The visual presentation and pacing also come under fire, criticised for being sluggish and failing to build the engaging, cosy mystery atmosphere that made the book a global phenomenon.
A Major Misfire For Spielberg and Netflix
This project marks a significant collaboration between Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and streaming giant Netflix. The critical panning poses a substantial setback, raising questions about the adaptation of other novels in Osman's wildly successful series, which were likely eyed as a major franchise.
For fans eagerly awaiting the cinematic journey to Coopers Chase Retirement Village, this early review suggests they may be in for a profound disappointment, with the magic of the original novel sadly lost in translation.
