Thelma

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

"Thelma" isn't perfect but as a whole, it is a fun and entertaining movie about the lives of elderly people, issues of scam calls and family with fun energy, good direction and a wonderful performance from June Squibb. Director Josh Margolin does a pretty good job on blending comedic and dramatic elements together into the narrative with good humor, fun characters and interesting dynamics between the characters. Squibb's character was highly entertaining to observe and while the other characters were okay, I found each of the characters to have some decent chemistry and energy together.

The production is solid, the camerawork is okay, and the dialogue is pretty good, while some moments could be better. Margolin has a lot of fun references to Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible and he was able to add the jokes and references well into the narrative and action that is occurring in the movie. Although I did found the ending to be slightly anticlimactic and a little unrealistic, as a whole, the heart in the movie is strong and Margolin clearly put a lot of passionate into this project.

Fun movie to watch with friends and it really is sweet.

A 93-year-old woman living alone is scammed by a caller pretending to be her grandson who steals $10,000 from her. In spite of the concerns from her family, Thelma Post goes on an adventure to get her money back. She gets the help from her reluctant friend Ben to find and confront her swindlers.

Thelma is a movie excels at comedic timing. There are a lot of gags in this movie, some witty dialogue, some physical, a couple running gags and a lot about the situations older people are in. Nearly all of them land. I was laughing as hard as I did in Bad Boys: Ride or Die and the people I was with laughed throughout the film too. While there may have been a joke or two that did not work for me, I would say I laughed about every five minutes with this film. The best part about this movie is the timing of the jokes too and they never come across as mean-spirited or mocking elderly people. I think that people of all ages can find something humorous in this action-comedy flick.

The story is not about the capabilities of a senior citizens and how you do not have to let anyone take advantage of you. In this movie, Thelma handles herself very well and pushes herself to catch the thieves that swindled her. She is shown to be very resilient and refuses to let her weaknesses stop her from getting her money back. However, the movie is also about not tackling dangerous situations alone. Thelma is very resilient, but there are times she does need help on her quest and she learns throughout the film. The message comes across as knowing when you need an extra hand in difficult situations. The script handles the themes in this movie beautifully and it comes off as encouraging and uplifting.

Thelma Post is a great protagonist. She is funny, she is lovable and kind and she is one of the most resilient people I have seen in a while. She does not let anything or anyone stop her. There is one moment in the film that I cheered on the inside from her. Thelma is flawed in that she can be selfish and few times, but she is shown to have her heart in the right place and admit when she was wrong. June Squibb is terrific in the role. She is funny, charming and has fantastic expressions and comedic timing. Thelma Post as a character could not work nearly as well without Squibb's enthusiasm and wit.

The supporting cast is strong too with the late Richard Roundtree as a standout as Ben. Roundtree plays as Thelma's cautious and helpful friend beautifully and shares very fun chemistry with June Squibb. This is one of those movies where I could tell the two stars seemed like friends in real life. Thelma's family is very likable and concerned, but I am not sure how to feel about the rant from the grandson. I could see that scene being relatable to a degree because it is dealing with a missing person and he feels as if his grandmother's disappearance is his fault, but it is a bit tough to watch, especially when he rants in front of his parents. Fred Hinchinger's acting in that scene works well because he is relatively calm most of the movies and then he lets that out of nowhere. Malcolm McDowell is in the movie and he is great here. The cast is really good and everyone contributes to the plot.

As I said earlier, Thelma is not a typical action movie in the slightest. The movie is more about the adventure of Thelma and Ben than a film with chases or action scenes. It's another part of the film that makes it more charming because it still finds ways to make the story tense by showing how dangerous this seemingly simple journey for Thelma can be. One of my favorite scenes though is the scooter chase in the nursing home. It is such a creative and entertaining sequence. The climax is fantastic in the buildup and payoff with how far Thelma has come. The cinematography by David Bolen is solid, but the editing by Magolin is what makes this movie so dynamic. The film is edited in a way that builds up the tension and comedic beats at the perfect time. The musical score by Nick Chuba is really good and it fits the tone of the movie.

I really enjoyed Thelma. This is the perfect mix of funny, heartwarming and intense moments. It is also surprisingly original as an action movie. This is a movie that takes full advantage of its premise from start to finish. It encourages older people that they still have their lives to live. This is one of the funniest movies I have seen in a while and it had a few moments that I found pretty touching. This movie is a gem. I highly recommend Thelma if it is playing in a theater near you.

When did the late great Richard Roundtree becomes the cat who's the sex machine for all the old White chicks? He played Jane Fonda's love interest in Moving On now he's June Squibb's partner in this "Crime Thriller" This new trend to make movies starring older actresses lost one of their best romantic leads in 2023.

This movie needed an action star to justify it and it got that in Shaft. It also had a decent character villain in Malcom McDowell, which justifies my perception of it. I mean it has the prefect action premise: "They stole her money now she has to get it back!" It's funny how because the cast was old as dirt it made a lot of things, they were doing far more suspenseful: walking upstairs, riding a moped, falling. I do feel like you got to be the right age to feel the danger and be able to laugh at it. If I was 30 to 40 years older I possible think this was a horror flick.

So yeah, it was a delightful film about what grandma means to everyone when they get old enough to need to worry about them more than usually. A bit grim if you are coming to that age when you are a burden to one's family. Also, a touching love letter for a filmmaker who obviously loved his own grandmother.

The emotional thrill ride was intense even though most of the cast can't move that fast but it definitely makes you want to call your grandma after it's over.

"Thelma" (2024) is a charming and heartwarming family film that stands out for its empowering portrayal of an elderly woman. June Squibb shines as the elderly character, delivering a performance that anchors the film with both warmth and humor. The film cleverly integrates jokes about old age, adding a light-hearted touch to its narrative.

Despite its strengths, the movie does have some drawbacks. The low-budget feel is noticeable, and the supporting actors do not leave a lasting impression. However, these issues do not overshadow the film's overall appeal.

The screenplay is well-written, offering a satisfying resolution and a story that celebrates the resilience and agency of its main character. Standout moments include when Thelma takes matters into her own hands, and the scene where she gets scammed by telemarketers. It shows that it can really happen to anyone at that age.

Overall, "Thelma" is a great choice for a family movie, providing a loving tribute to our elders and delivering a blend of humor and heartfelt moments. It's worth watching for those seeking a film that combines a reminder of loving respect for our Grandparents with a touch of humor.

Movies with people at advanced ages as characters are all the rage. At the rate they are being produced and released, the Academy may soon create a new category of Academy Awards - for Best Actor/Actress over 85. If such a thing were to happen next year, then one of the nominations (at least) would belong to June Squibb, who at 93 plays a woman who is exactly her age, in the sparkling and tender comedy 'Thelma' (2024) written and directed by Josh Margolin. June Squibb is a phenomenon. She has about a hundred films and TV series in her filmography, but she was over 60 years old when she debuted on the big screens. But once started, she didn't stop. She featured in 'About Schmidt' (she's the wife who dies in the opening scene) and received an Oscar nomination for a supporting role in 2013. She's been on screen in several movies or TV shows every year for the past decade. For writer-director Josh Margolin, this is his feature film debut, but, to use a cliché, I'll mention that it doesn't show. With the role of Thelma, June Squibb comes close the awards zone, even if the Academy does not establish that new and imaginary category.

Widowed for two years, Thelma is 93 years old, still strong and lucid enough to live alone. At least she thinks so. She is helped by her grandson, the adorable Daniel, who at 24 has not found his way in life, but is kind enough to visit often his grandmother and to introduce her to the secrets of computers and the Internet. When the somewhat naive old woman falls victim to an Internet fraud sending ten thousand dollars to the address of some crooks for a supposed bail for Daniel, neither the family nor the police can do much to help her get her money back. Then Thelma decides to act alone. Not that she critically needs the money, but a matter of principles. Her only help - reluctant too - comes Ben, an old friend from the same generation, who has chosen to become a resident in a nursing home and is very happy with life there. Will the two aged persons, using an electric scooter in the urban jungle of the Los Angeles area, manage to find the criminals, recover the losses and do justice? What is certain is that their disappearance puts the family, nursing home staff and the police on alert. Everyone is looking for the two, who are looking for the crooks.

Getting older is not a very nice thing. Physical and mental limitations appear, the world around is changing in terms of technology and mentalities, and not necessarily for the better, loved ones and friends have disappeared, or if they still exist, they are also suffering from the ravages of old age. Josh Margolin's script is sometimes naive and simplistic, in the style of television sitcom series, but it has the great quality of getting it right in what concerns the old age, dealing with it with understanding and empathy. I also have in care a soon-to-be 96-year-old mother, and I can testify that I recognized many experiences and situations in what I saw in 'Thelma'. June Squibb does not act, she rather lives her age on the screen, and therefore her role is truthful and also loaded with humor. Richard Roundtree, her partner in the film plays the role of Ben, who would be the same age as Thelma, but in reality he was 13 years younger. He died in October 2023 and this was his last feature film. Malcolm McDowell is probably the best-known actor in the cast, and he's 14 years younger than June Squibb. Her Thelma dominates the film, not only because of the character but also because of the quality of her performance. The narration is cursive - even if the events on the screen do not quite fit into the calculation of the hours of a day - and the humor is natural and constantly present. 'Thelma' is good summer entertainment that proves that even the experiences of older ages can be made into funny, sensitive and good taste comedies.