Thelma (2024) Movie Review: A Heartfelt Tale of Adventure and Redemption

Thelma (2024): A Surprisingly Heartfelt Action-Comedy About Growing Old Gracefully

Rating: 4.1/5 Stars

Let me start by saying I did not expect to get emotionally invested in a movie about a 93-year-old grandmother taking down phone scammers. But here we are, and June Squibb has delivered one of the most unexpectedly delightful performances of the year in "Thelma." This isn't just a gimmicky "what if grandma was an action hero" concept - it's a genuinely touching exploration of aging, independence, and the lengths we'll go to protect our dignity.

At 93 years old herself, June Squibb brings authenticity to this role that no amount of prosthetics or CGI could achieve. She's not playing elderly - she is elderly, and that reality grounds every moment of this surprisingly action-packed adventure in something real and relatable.

The Perfect Crime (Almost)

The plot is deliciously simple: Thelma Post receives a phone call from someone claiming to be her grandson Danny, saying he's been arrested and needs $10,000 in cash sent immediately. It's a classic phone scam, but Thelma falls for it completely, mailing the money to a P.O. box before realizing she's been conned.

While her daughter Gail (Parker Posey) and son-in-law Alan (Clark Gregg) want to chalk it up to a learning experience and move on, Thelma is having none of it. She's determined to get her money back, and more importantly, to prove that she's not the helpless old woman everyone thinks she is.

What follows is essentially "Mission: Impossible" meets "Cocoon," as Thelma teams up with her friend Ben (Richard Roundtree in one of his final performances) to track down the scammers and get revenge. It sounds ridiculous on paper, but director Josh Margolin (making his feature debut) finds the perfect tone that makes it work.

June Squibb's Star Turn

June Squibb has been a reliable character actor for decades, stealing scenes in everything from "Nebraska" to "About Schmidt." But "Thelma" gives her a leading role that showcases her range in ways we've never seen before.

Thelma is stubborn, proud, and occasionally infuriating - in other words, she's a real person, not a saintly grandmother archetype. Squibb plays her with just the right mix of vulnerability and determination. When Thelma struggles with technology or needs help with basic tasks, it never feels condescending because Squibb maintains the character's dignity throughout.

The physical comedy is remarkable. Watching Squibb navigate a two-wheeled scooter through Los Angeles traffic shouldn't be funny, but her commitment to the role and perfect comic timing make it genuinely hilarious. She's doing her own stunts (within reason), and you can feel the authenticity in every moment.

More importantly, Squibb nails the emotional beats. When Thelma talks about feeling invisible or discusses her fears about losing her independence, these moments hit hard because they come from a place of truth. This isn't just comic relief - it's a real exploration of what it means to age in America.

Supporting Cast That Gets It

Richard Roundtree, in one of his final performances before his passing, is wonderful as Ben, Thelma's reluctant partner in crime. The chemistry between Squibb and Roundtree feels like a real friendship built over decades. Ben is dealing with his own health issues and family pressures, and Roundtree brings a world-weary charm to the role.

Their scenes together are the heart of the movie. These are two people who've lived full lives and aren't ready to be put out to pasture. The way they support each other while also bickering like an old married couple gives the film its emotional center.

Parker Posey as Thelma's daughter Gail walks a difficult line. She has to be protective enough that we understand her concerns about her mother, but not so overbearing that we dislike her. Posey finds that balance perfectly, playing Gail as someone who genuinely loves her mother but struggles with the role reversal that comes with aging parents.

Clark Gregg brings his usual likability to Alan, Thelma's son-in-law who tries to be the voice of reason while getting caught up in the adventure despite himself. The family dynamics feel authentic, with all the love, frustration, and miscommunication that comes with real relationships.

Fred Hechinger plays Danny, Thelma's actual grandson, whose relationship with his grandmother provides some of the film's sweetest moments. The guilt he feels about the scam (since the scammers used his identity) drives him to help Thelma in ways that feel genuine rather than plot-convenient.

Action Comedy That Actually Works

The genius of "Thelma" is how it treats its elderly protagonists with respect while still mining comedy from their situation. The action sequences are scaled appropriately - we're not watching 93-year-olds doing parkour, but we are watching them navigate challenges that feel genuinely difficult and dangerous for people their age.

A sequence where Thelma and Ben infiltrate a mailbox store is genuinely tense, not because there are explosions or gunfights, but because the stakes feel real for these characters. Getting caught could mean losing their independence forever, which is scarier than any movie villain.

The film's approach to technology provides some of its best comedy. Watching Thelma try to use a smartphone or navigate modern security systems is funny, but the humor comes from the absurdity of the technology, not from mocking elderly people who don't understand it.

Josh Margolin's direction shows remarkable restraint. He never pushes the comedy too far or treats his elderly characters as objects of ridicule. The humor comes from character and situation, not from cheap shots about age or physical limitations.

Visual Style and Technical Craft

Cinematographer David Bolen gives the film a bright, sunny California look that contrasts nicely with the darker elements of the story. Los Angeles becomes a character itself, with Thelma and Ben navigating a city that's both familiar and alien to them.

The production design deserves credit for creating spaces that feel authentically lived-in. Thelma's apartment tells her life story through accumulated objects and family photos, while the scammers' operation looks appropriately seedy and temporary.

Alex Weston's score strikes the right balance between comedy and drama. The music enhances the action sequences without mocking them, and provides appropriate emotional support during the quieter character moments.

Themes That Resonate

Beneath the surface comedy, "Thelma" explores serious themes about aging, independence, and dignity. The film acknowledges the real challenges that come with growing old - physical limitations, technology gaps, and society's tendency to dismiss elderly people - without being depressing about it.

The movie's treatment of phone scams is particularly effective. Rather than just using them as a plot device, the film explores the real psychological impact these crimes have on elderly victims. It's not just about the money - it's about feeling foolish, violated, and vulnerable.

The relationship between Thelma and her family touches on the difficult dynamics that emerge when adult children become caregivers for aging parents. The film doesn't take sides, acknowledging both the legitimate concerns family members have and the frustration elderly people feel when their autonomy is questioned.

Cultural Relevance

"Thelma" arrives at a time when conversations about aging and elder care are becoming increasingly important as the population ages. The film provides a refreshing perspective on these issues, centering the elderly characters' point of view rather than treating them as burdens or objects of pity.

The movie's portrayal of phone scams also feels timely. These crimes disproportionately target elderly people, and the film's depiction of both the scammers' tactics and their victims' responses feels accurate and important.

Minor Criticisms

The film occasionally pushes its premise a bit too far. Some of the action sequences, while fun, strain credibility even within the movie's established tone. A chase scene involving mobility scooters, while entertaining, feels more like a cartoon than the grounded comedy the rest of the film establishes.

The scammers themselves are somewhat underdeveloped as characters. While this might be intentional (they're meant to represent a faceless threat rather than complex villains), it makes the final confrontation feel less satisfying than it could have been.

Some of the family drama feels slightly undercooked. While the performances are strong, the resolution of the intergenerational conflicts happens a bit too neatly, without fully exploring the complex emotions involved.

Representation That Matters

"Thelma" is notable for centering an elderly woman as an action hero, something that's virtually unprecedented in mainstream cinema. The film doesn't treat this as a novelty - Thelma is the protagonist because her story is worth telling, not because it's unusual to see a 93-year-old woman in this role.

The movie also provides meaningful roles for several elderly actors, giving them opportunities to play complex, active characters rather than just wise grandparents or comic relief.

Emotional Impact

What makes "Thelma" work so well is how it balances humor with genuine emotion. The film earns its laughs through character and situation, but it also takes its characters' feelings seriously. When Thelma talks about feeling invisible or worries about becoming a burden, these moments land because they come from a place of truth.

The relationship between Thelma and Ben provides some genuinely moving moments about friendship, mortality, and making the most of the time you have left. Their adventure becomes about more than just getting back stolen money - it's about proving to themselves and their families that they still matter.

Final Verdict

"Thelma" is a delightful surprise - a genuinely funny action-comedy that never forgets to treat its characters with respect and dignity. June Squibb delivers a star-making performance (at 93!) that should introduce her to a whole new generation of fans.

The film works because it understands that getting older doesn't mean getting boring. Thelma may be 93, but she's still got fight left in her, and watching her reclaim her agency and dignity is both hilarious and genuinely moving.

This is the rare comedy that manages to be both funny and meaningful, entertaining and emotionally satisfying. It's proof that there are still stories worth telling about people society often overlooks, and that age is just a number when it comes to being a badass.

Bottom Line: A surprisingly heartfelt action-comedy that proves it's never too late to be the hero of your own story, featuring a career-best performance from June Squibb.

Perfect For: Anyone who's ever had a grandparent they adored, fans of character-driven comedies, viewers looking for something genuinely different, and anyone who appreciates great performances regardless of the actor's age.

Skip If: You need non-stop action or prefer your comedies without emotional depth, you're uncomfortable with stories about aging, or you generally dislike slower-paced character studies.

Best Viewing Experience: Perfect for a matinee showing or streaming at home with family. This is the kind of movie that benefits from being shared - bring your parents or grandparents if possible. The humor and heart work even better when experienced with multiple generations.