Thelma

June Squibb stars as the titular 93-year-old grandmother in writer-director Josh Margolin’s feature debut Thelma. The quintessential caring matriarch, Thelma would do anything for her family, especially her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger). The bond between the pair is so strong, in fact, that when she receives a call from a distressed Danny, who tells her he’s in jail, she doesn’t hesitate to send $10,000 to a man claiming to be his attorney. When Danny is discovered to be fine, she realises that she’s fallen for a scam. Despite her family’s insistence that she stay at home due to her advanced age and frailty, Thelma decides to take matters into her own hands. Teaming up with an old friend (Richard Roundtree in his final film performance), the pair set off on a mission to get her money back.

Squibb is utterly delightful in what is her first leading role. The actor radiates pure joy onscreen, with the chemistry between her and Roundtree being one of the main highlights of the feature. Roundtree is likewise excellent, delivering some of the funniest and most poignant moments. The script’s light-hearted approach to its humour makes for an enjoyable action-comedy outing that’s suitable to watch with your own grandmother. However, the sitcom-style humour doesn’t always land, resulting in some instances that come off as plain silly.

For all its playful spirit, Thelma is also a film that’s full of heart. While the plot sees two seniors hunting down a scammer on a bright red tandem scooter, the core of Margolin’s feature is firmly rooted in its themes of ageing and family. There are more than a few heartfelt exchanges where the characters reflect on what it means to grow older. Nowhere is this better exemplified than with Danny’s unwavering devotion to his grandmother that’s rendered bittersweet by his knowledge that she’s not going to be with him forever. This aspect of Thelma only hits harder when viewers learn that the title character is based on the filmmaker’s own grandmother.

Though the comedy doesn’t always work, the combination of Squibb and Roundtree’s extraordinary performances with the genuine affection that went into creating this film, make Thelma a highly entertaining watch from start to finish.

Andrew Murray

Thelma is released in select cinemas on 19^th July 2024.

Watch the trailer for Thelma here: