“Thelma” stars June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell. Released on June 21, 2024, the film has a grandmother seeking revenge against a phone scammer. The film was written and directed by Josh Margolin in his feature directorial debut after directing the 2011 short film “A Dentist”. The summer movie season is known for its share of blockbuster heroes, particularly in the action genre. Outside of superheroes, we have several protagonists who went against the odds to accomplish their goals, whether solving a mystery or seeking revenge against those who wronged them. This year, we’re now introduced to a new blockbuster hero destined to become one of the cinematic greats for years to come: a grandmother with a thirst for justice. No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is an actual movie centering on an elderly lady searching for an unnamed scammer, which has been getting plenty of praise since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. With a concept like that, why wouldn’t I take the opportunity to see how it plays out compared to the other standard blockbusters? Granted, it’s more of a comedy that plays with its action-revenge tropes, but whatever. With that said, let’s see if this humorous venture is the real thing or a time-wasting scam. The story centers on Thelma Post (Squibb), a 93-year-old woman living alone in Los Angeles. She’s often visited by her caring grandson Danny (Hechinger), who looks after her despite not taking responsibility for his own life. One day, Thelma receives a phone call from a person posing as Danny, claiming he has been arrested and telling her to send her money to a local address. Unfortunately, she eventually discovers that Danny is actually safe, meaning that Thelma has been scammed. Unable to get help from the authorities, Thelma decides to take matters into her own hands. Alongside her friend Ben (Roundtree), Thelma embarks on a road trip to retrieve her money and find the person who scammed her. “Thelma” was the film I was curious about the most compared to the other bottom-tier movies that came out last weekend. While I hadn’t watched the trailer before watching the movie, the concept and rave reviews from Sundance convinced me to check it out. In a way, it’s another film we got this year that deals with phone scammers after “The Beekeeper”. However, instead of Jason Statham dishing out justice against those heartless thieves, the film has June Squibb taking care of business in a comical yet authentic fashion. Regarding its strong reviews, the film had a lot of expectations to meet to impress its general audiences, but what matters most to me is whether I would feel the same way as those who saw it earlier. After finally watching “Thelma”, I can easily understand its appeal. No, this is not a scam. I’m being legitimately honest when I say this is another trope-defying film that offers more than what’s on the poster but in the best way. The plot in “Thelma” is what you expect from its synopsis: a grandmother traveling to take back what’s hers. However, that’s only half of what the movie is about. While it is described as a road trip comedy based on the plot, it’s also a down-to-earth drama chronicling Thelma’s independence that made her distant from her family, emphasizing the representation of older adults. Thelma discovers during her light-hearted escapade that true independence encompasses being open to receiving support from others and appreciating the importance of her relationships with loved ones. At least, that’s what I got out of this movie. “Thelma” encompasses the essential elements found in other road trip movies, whether it's comedy, drama, or even action. However, it’s also not without the sentimentality that sews these elements together, making for another joy ride filled with laughs and tears. But what caught me off guard is how “Thelma” exceeds these tropes instead of succumbing to them. Through his direction and screenplay, Josh Margolin has become known as a filmmaker who brings a refreshing vision to Hollywood's usual narrative standards. On paper, "Thelma" seemed like another zany comedy that relies on ageism and clichés to create cheap and exaggerated humor. Thankfully, that's not the case. While the humor is involved, Margolin presents it authentically and realistically, especially in scenes where Thelma channels her inner Tom Cruise. Instead of taking the easy route for its road trip comedy vibes, he emphasized it in a relatable, charismatic, and tender manner. The result is a genuinely joyful and refreshing depiction of older people living like they’re fifty years younger. Of course, this is also due to Margolin’s screenplay, which favors clever dialogue and profound moments to reinvigorate and jab at its worn-out tropes instead of spoon-feeding them. The film's understated tone may initially seem disconcerting to those anticipating another slapstick comedy featuring elderly individuals in outlandish situations. However, this unconventional approach proves to be one of its most endearing qualities, delivering a well-balanced and charming blend of heartfelt drama and wit-driven humor that celebrates rather than mocks the older characters. After appearing in multiple movies in a supporting role throughout her career, June Squibb finally had the opportunity to showcase her talents in her first-ever leading role. I’ve only known about Squibb from some of the other movies I’ve seen, including the recently released “Inside Out 2”, where she made a cameo appearance as Nostalgia. So, it makes me happy that she finally earned her first leading role through her hard work and determination, and in her 90s too, which makes this accomplishment a special occasion worth noting. What’s even more fascinating is that the movie didn’t waste that opportunity for the actress. June Squibb delivered a compelling portrayal of Thelma as a determined and endearing grandmother who would stop at nothing to get even with the scammer. She provided plenty of excellent moments through her charisma and humor while proving her worth as a talented and outstanding actress in her heartfelt scenes. Richard Roundtree delivered a captivating performance as Ben, Thelma’s estranged friend, in one of his final roles. He played a pivotal role in guiding her on her path of vengeance. Similarly, Fred Hechinger excelled in portraying Danny, whose character development was as poignant as Thelma’s journey. Overall, “Thelma” sews an incredible line between comedy, action, and heart from a cleverly sublime, light-hearted ball of yarn. This is another example of a simplistic and seemingly absurd concept done right, as it delivered a witty, heartfelt, and hilarious callback to its action-revenge tropes that don’t rely heavily on its far-fetched shortcuts. Moreover, drawing inspiration from Margolin’s personal experience with his grandmother, the film serves as a heartwarming and highly entertaining homage to beloved grandmothers and the timeless values of independence and family. June Squibb’s first leading role was a stellar display of her talents, and the rest of the cast followed suit with their own scene-stealing performances. More importantly, it represents Josh Margolin’s future as a filmmaker through his well-balanced direction and thoughtful screenplay. Along with its clever uses of humor and sentimentality, the film became a surprisingly heartfelt experience that’s as sweet and delicious as a grandmother’s baked cookies. If you’re a fan of June Squibb or looking for a down-to-earth piece of counter-programming between the big summer blockbusters, this is definitely worth checking out. A
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