Thelma

Thelma
Starring June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey
Directed by Josh Margolin

Lately there's been a string of films featuring some of Hollywood's former leading ladies in films that don't deserve their talent. "Book Club" (and its abysmal sequel), "80 for Brady" and "Summer Camp" are just a few that feature the likes of both Oscar winners and Oscar nominees who flail and lament about their age while trying to act like someone thirty years younger, and the results are oftentimes just embarrassing for them. Then there's "Thelma," a (mostly) true story of one woman's quest to get back the money stolen from her, played to absolute perfection by the criminally underrated June Squibb.

Thelma Post (June Squibb) is a 93-year-old widower who lives on her own but has diminished capabilities, including wearing a hearing aid and not understanding the new technology. Fortunately her grandson Danny (Ferd Hechinger) shows her the ropes and treats her as a respected grandmother as opposed to a burden. One day Thelma gets scammed into giving $10,000 away, but instead of allowing the scammers to get away with it, she decides to get her money back. She enlists the help of her old friend Ben (Richard Roundtree) - or, in reality, his scooter - to find the scammers to get her money back. Meanwhile, her daughter Gail (Parker Posey) and her husband Alan (Clark Gregg) worry about her mental state, while Danny struggles with feeling responsible for losing his grandmother as well as being a complete failure at life.

"Thelma" comes from comedian Josh Margolin in his feature film directorial debut, and tells the fictionalized story of his real life grandmother named Thelma after she was conned out of some of her earnings (there's even a sweet moment in the mid credits where you see the real Thelma). You can sense the love, the compassion, and the passion Margolin puts into every scene, and the performances reflect such dedication to the story. It's not one of those big budget films, but the heart is bigger than any Tom Cruise "Mission: Impossible" film out there.

That heart belongs to June Squibb, a veteran actress who's been in Hollywood for 78 years who's an Oscar nominee but not many people know her work. She's criminally underrated, as "Thelma" is her actual first leading role ever, which, again, is criminal. She carries the film on her more-than-capable shoulders and proves herself as a golden woman with the talent to match. This grandma isn't baking cookies and passing pleasantries, but headstrong and determined, not allowing the scammers to get away with what happened. Yet she's older than she used to be, and in so faces certain challenges that she doesn't seem ready to face: most notably her mobility, and her possibly diluted mental state. Still, she serves as the heart and soul of the film and delivers the laughs and tears in equal measure.

In his final performance before his passing last year, Richard Roundtree goes against his type as Ben, Thelma's helpful partner who joins her quest for revenge. Known as the action hero "Shaft," Roundtree here takes a backseat (both literally and metaphorically) to Thelma's lead, serving as support and also the voice of reason when Thelma doesn't want to hear it. It's a fitting end to an acting legend, all the more poignant due to the film's theme of age.

Yet the surprising standout comes from Fred Hechinger's Danny, a Gen-Z adult who treats Thelma with love and respect far above most guys his age would. Danny is lost in the world, without a future or hope in his mind, but his love for his grandmother is nothing short of exemplary. He gives some of the most heartfelt, emotional moments in the film, especially in a moving scene between him and Squibb that will leave a lump in your throat.

Proving age is nothing but a number, "Thelma" highlights the thirst for life even when faced with adversity, giving a tender emotional story with comedic timing and action that proves June Squibb should be more recognized than she is.

The Score: A+