Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. The film, which premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, is inspired by a real-life experience involving Margolin’s own grandmother.
When 93-year-old Thelma Post gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, she sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.
The cast includes June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell.
Thelma made its debut in theaters June 21st, courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.
When I first heard about Thelma my first thought was 94-year-olf June Squibb was finally getting her chance to play the elderly version of John Wick and I was all in for that. I’m only half-kidding because the original teaser trailer included an explosion and Squibb putting the petal to the metal on a motorized scooter. I thought the film looked fun but expected something over-the-top and mostly goofy, and I was as surprised as anyone when the film was much different than I expected it to be.
Thelma was fantastic right from the opening scene, serving up a very grounded coming-of-age style comedy film with a great story and a terrific cast. I loved the character of Thelma, played by June Squibb, right from the beginning as I was completely wrapped up in her no BS nature and sense of confidence. The relationship she had with her grandson Daniel played by Fred Hechinger felt genuine as their on-screen chemistry yielded tons of laughs while also getting viewers in the feels. I could honestly watch these two together for hours. The story is of course primarily focused on Thelma and her undeniable determination to get back what was taken from her, but the side story is about her grandsons attempt to find his way in the world. Overall just two great characters that helped to bring the screenplay to life.
As far as the screenplay is concerned Thelma is a tale of revenge on the surface, but it really is so much more than that. Right away it is clear that although the comedic element is there, this is actually a much more serious movie compared to how it was marketed. As I touched on briefly in the intro Thelma is based on a true story and the film does feel much more realistic compared to the elderly Jon Wick some people may have been expecting. The film is more about our ability to be self-sufficient whether it be in our early 20’s or early 90’s. I loved the films message and felt like the identity of the film was intact throughout, and even though I laughed a ton the film resonated with me so much more than just a standard comedy would.
The film is absolutely packed with great one-liners especially from June Squibb, and each one had me laughing out loud. Everything just feels so natural and seamless for Squibb which seems to rub off on the rest of the cast. She is just amazing, simple as that. As I talked about briefly she had great chemistry with actor Fred Hechinger as her grandson Daniel, and I personally loved him in this film. Certainly not an actor you would consider to be a household name, but Hechinger has played his fair share of roles in TV and film, and may be most recognizable for his role in the first season of the hit HBO dark comedy drama series White Lotus.
He seems to really know his way around the aimless 20-something characters, but there is no denying his talent as an actor. Aside from Squibb’s Thelma, Hechinger is my favorite character in the film. I just loved how he was super sweet with his grandmother but was also struggling to find his way in the world. I really enjoyed Richard Roundtree’s role as well and he definitely contributed to quite a few laughs. Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Malcolm McDowell all played small roles but were equally great.
THE VERDICT
A heartwarming coming-of-age story about family and the struggle for independence, Thelma is engaging, hilarious, and genuinely moving, but more than anything else it reminds us that 94-year-old actress June Squibb is a national treasure. You will simply fall in love with Thelma and will likely find yourself wishing she was your grandmother, I know I did. Check this movie out in theaters, you’ll be glad you did.
TED TAKES RATING - 9.5/10
Thelma is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.