Thelma (2024) | Film Review

Thelma is a 93-year-old grandmother who has elected to live alone since the passing of her beloved husband. When we first meet Thelma (June Squibb), her grandson, Daniel (Fred Hechinger), is doing what we all have done for our own grandparents at one time or another: helping her figure out technology. Setting up email, Facebook, etc. Modern devices are not Thelma’s forte. We soon learn just how out of Thelma’s grasp they are when a mysterious deviant pretends to be Daniel in a desperate situation one morning and scams her out of $10,000 of cold, hard cash.

Unlike so many of us, Thelma is not taking this lying down. She finds the police to be a waste of time, Daniel blames himself, and her daughter and son-in-law Gail and Alan (Parker Posey and Clark Gregg, brightening up every minute of their limited screen time) feel this means maybe it is time to discuss placing Thelma in an assisted living community. Therefore, Thelma realizes it is up to her and sets off on her own, even enlisting the help of a fellow retiree, Ben (the late Richard Roundtree), to hunt down these masterminds and get her money back. By any means necessary. First, she will need a gun.

Thelma is written and directed by Josh Margolin, based of similar exploits of his own grandmother, and if this film is any indication, Margolin needs to craft a trilogy of Thelma’s exploits. What an insanely beautiful, heartwarming, and thrilling film he has concocted, as well as a loving tribute to a formidable woman that no doubt deserves our adoration.

Thelma is paced perfectly, not a single frame feels excessive or wasted time. Thanks to Nick Chuba’s vibrantly riveting score, even Thelma and Ben bouncing down the street on a scooter or Thelma rolling over a mattress plays like a pulse-pounding action scene. This film should also appeal to absolutely everyone as Margolin speaks to all perspectives and mindsets with respect. Gail and Alan are not played as unreasonable, Daniel is not an idiot, and Thelma is never anyone’s fool.

Josh Margolin’s direction is tight, and his screenplay is humorous, witty, earnest, and humble. He also manages to create a reasonable conversation on all aspects of aging. This is a complicated topic, as so many of our elderly are simply discarded as feeble children later in their lives, as if they had not just spent 90+ years raising kids and chasing their own dreams. Often times, their humanity can seem unrepresented, and Margolin seems keenly aware of this. As the film continues to its delightful end, we come to care so much more about the characters in the film than we do the antics, and that is a feat all in its own.

Richard Roundtree, for his last role, is a far cry from Shaft. Ben is a bit of a nervous nelly, but he is also a man who understands and appreciates why he is in assisted living. It suits him. He enjoys the friendships, the classes, the support staff. Though Thelma firmly believes this is not for her, he joins her on her quest out of friendship and loyalty, and Roundtree’s inviting eyes say everything we need to know about their timeless relationship.

It should be noted how strong Fred Hechinger is here. While Squibb absolutely deserves her flowers as Thelma, her heart and our attachment to her begins with Daniel’s undying love for his grandma. He is a bit lost as a character, but Thelma believes in him, and this drives Daniel to strive to be better and find his place in this world. Daniel seems to be the only character who understands Thelma as a person rather than a label, and Hechinger’s innocence is a huge proponent of why this relationship will melt your heart.

Finally, June Squibb grabs the reins in the lead, and she absolutely crushes it. Squibb makes Thelma the universal symbol of grandmothers everywhere while simultaneously creating a uniquely specific character with agency and confidence. She reminded me so much of my own grandma, and she will of many who had a close relationship with theirs. She’s a spitfire, a gentle soul, and a badass octogenarian who isn’t afraid to wave a gun around to get things done. A true masterwork of a performance, you will fall in love with Thelma immediately, and that is all a testament to the brilliant dedication of June Squibb.

Thelma is not only an insanely fantastic ride, but it is also one of the best films of the year. Audiences love to scream for Hollywood to make more original fare, well here it is. Thelma is awesome, so get off your couch, grab your entire family if you can, and get to the movie theater now! We need more movies like this to find a bigger audience, and I know your own grandma will be so proud of you for it.

Listen to our full podcast review of Thelma on this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: