June Squibb doesn’t need Jason Statham to do her character’s dirty work on screen. At 94 years old, she can take care of it herself and get the classic walk-away-from-an-explosion scene. It’s glorious.
In Thelma, Squibb plays the titular Thelma, a 90-something-year-old who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. She hands over ten grand and soon realizes what’s going on. Rather than take the loss, Thelma takes matters into her own hands and goes on an adventure with her longtime friend (Richard Roundtree) to retrieve what’shers.
Thelma rides around town on a motorized scooter trying to outwit her family (Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Fred Hechinger—all of whom add their own colorful coat of paint) on her trail and solve the case.
Thelma is a heartwarming comedy that will leave you in stitches. Don’t expect to see a reality-bending movie about an older person breaking necks; that’s for Liam Neeson to do in the next 15-20 years. Josh Margolin’s Thelma is a film with heart and plenty of laughs, and it is just an absolute joy to be around.
Thelma is not just about the adventure and the laughs, it’s about the beautiful moments of pause that truly make the film special. One such scene features Squibb and Roundtree’s characters visiting a mutual friend, a poignant moment that taps into something deeper without calling too much attention to itself. It’s these moments that pull audiences into the emotional depth of the film, making it more than just a comedy. It’s enough to make you go “huh” and nestle these characters deeper into your heart.
This movie is an easy recommendation. It’s both lovely and memorable and would be great for a PG-13-approved family to watch.
Q&A
If you want to know more about Thelma, you can check out our interview with the film’s writer-director, Josh Margolin, and star, June Squibb, where they discuss inserting commentary within the film and the art of walking away from an explosion.
