Film Review: Thelma (2024)

Step aside Tom Cruise you’ve got competition from June Squibb in the utterly delightful action-adventure Thelma.

From the opening moments of a grandson patiently helping his grandmother with her computer, I knew I was going to fall head over heels for Thelma – both the character and the film.  For anyone who knows me, I have a deeply felt relationship with my wife’s grandparents.  This moment in fact brought me to tears because I’ve been in this very situation with Fran (my Thelma).  It’s those knowing moments that Writer/Director Josh Margolin gets right, along with the bigger comedic and action beats, that make Thelma such an utter delight.  As much an ode to those older folks that many underestimate the film is as much a love letter to why we love action films. 

It’s the loving relationship between grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) and grandma Thelma (Squibb) that sets off the series of events that calls our hero into action.  It’s a phone scammer that manages to bilk $10,000 from the 90-year-old. The police and even her children (the perfectly casted Parker Posey and Clark Gregg) say that it’s useless to fight and take the loss as a hard lesson learned.  No, not Thelma.  Armed with her tenacity and the help of Ben (Richard Roundtree) she makes her way to the culprits that took her confidence.  

Few films will charm and wiggle into your heart the way Thelma will.  There is a sense of character and timing that recalls the best work of Hal Ashby.  Margolin cares about these characters in a way that few writer/directors this early in their careers do.  It isn’t just the relationship between Danny and Thelma but how each supporting character no matter how much screen time is given a bit of grace and complexity.  Even the villains that have taken Thelma’s money are given moments of humanity.

Though this would all be for naught if it wasn’t for June Squibb.  Squibb gives Thelma all the confusion, attitude, humor, and intelligence any woman of 90 has acquired over her lifetime.  Part of the beauty of the film is that it never oversells what is possible and Squibb leans into that.  There are moments of tension built around her memory and ability to do things but also triumphs when she is able to get past them.  Squibb gives us those moments because we are not only worried about her, but we are actively rooting for her to succeed.  The way that Squibb creates the character is built around the general moxie and “can do” attitude is as inspiring as much as it’s a beautiful magic trick of acting.  

Not to be outdone by Squibb, the supporting cast is one of the best of the year.  Beginning with Hechinger, Posey, and Gregg as the grandson, daughter, and son-in-law of that make-up Thelma’s family.  They surprise and delight as much as Squibb in their interplay and warmness, actually feeling like a modern family.  Posey and Gregg are so good as a couple one has to wonder why they were never cast together as a couple previously.  Hechinger is the find here as the anxious grandson in a bit of arrested development who loves his grandma above all else.  However, the real treat is Richard Roundtree as Thelma’s partner in action Ben.  Any fan of Roundtree will both smile and shed a tear for this perfect capping of an illustrious career.  One had only wished Roundtree was around to accept the critical lauding he will most certainly receive. 

Thelma is truly one of the surprises of 2024.  

THELMA is in Select Theaters on June 21, 2024