‘Thelma’ – Review
Acting legend June Squibb is going for it in Thelma, a hilariously heart-warming tale of one old lady who’s had enough, and who decides to scam the scammers, and it makes for a very fun watch for audiences.
Thelma Post (June Squibb) is a 93-year-old grandmother who loses $10,000 to a con artist on the phone. With help from a friend (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, she soon embarks on a treacherous journey across Los Angeles to reclaim what was taken from her.
Writer/director Josh Margolin brings out plenty of comedy and a whole heap of drama with Thelma, a hilarious comedy of one old lady’s vigilante stroll to take back what’s hers after being targeted in an online scam. And what follows is one of the most enjoyable watches of the whole year. In bringing Thelma to the big screen, Margolin lucks out with the casting of the legendary comedian and performer June Squibb in the role of Thelma Post. Still independent at 93, but beginning to feel the thraws of old age, Thelma is living her best life, and has a close relationship with her wayward, slacker grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger). But when she becomes the victim of an elaborate scam, she refuses to lie down and let the scammers take her money, and so she undertakes one last grand hurrah to get her money back and teach the bad guys a lesson.
Squibb is in her element as Thelma, crafting a one-of-a-kind character, and she has plenty of room to let her comedy chops run wild. As a character, Thelma Post is still very independent and proud of being so, but she’s also keenly aware that she is in the twilight of her life and won’t suffer anything untoward. Squibb plays Thelma as the smartest person in the room, and behind her gentile old lady persona is a wickedly sharp firecracker who won’t take no for an answer, and her ‘do it yourself’ attitude leads to all kinds of fun. This picture presents a true canvas for Squibb’s talent, and she shines in every scene that she’s in.
Thelma is a film that finds its humour in the relative mundane, and subverting the dogged orderliness that comes with old age. From battery-powered scooters to finding a way around a medical-alert bracelet, Thelma has some terrific laughs, and some great banter on behalf of Thelma and her partner in justice Ben, who the late great Richard Roundtree portrays, and it’s very fun to see the late Shaft actor play against type as he’s pulled in on Thelma’s vigilante mission. While audiences might be expecting Die Hard with walkers, what they get is a very sweet, funny, and surprising tale of one old lady writing a massive wrong. Its simplicity of narrative and character makes this film such an enjoyable watch.
A good dose of the hilarity of Thelma comes from its supporting cast, and stars Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey and Clark Gregg, and all of them bolster up the performance of Squibb. Hechinger is totally convincing as Thelma’s slacker grandson Danny, who is very close to his grandmother but totally clueless in the same instance, and through his manic search for his grandmother, he comes to accept a level of responsibility he never knew he possessed. Veteran performers Parker Posey and Clark Gregg also bring a great level of hilarity to the part as Thelma’s squabbling daughter Gail and her uptight husband Alan, and their back-and-forth bickering will give you all the giggles.
Thelma is a funny and sincere little movie with a huge heart. Not only is it a tribute to the power of June Squibb as a performer, but it champions an adventurous spirit and the power of independence, and it is a very special watch.
Image: Maslow Entertainment
