Thelma
review by Bobby Blakey
Ever since June Squibb’s Academy Award nominated performance in the 2013 film Nebraska I have been a fan. Since then, she has been constantly killing every performance she has done in all genres. Now she is getting the chance to head her first film Thelma co-starring Fred Hechinger, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Malcolm McDowell and the late Richard Roundtree from writer and director Josh Margolin. Could she once again knock it out of the park, or will her scooter battery run out too soon?
Thelma follows 93-year-old Thelma Post who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson and sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.
I have been wanting to see this film since seeing the first trailer, but after having to wait so long I was worried it might not live up to my excitement. Thankfully I couldn’t be more wrong, and I loved every moment of this movie. Knowing the story is loosely based on the director’s real-life grandma and an experience she went through makes it all the better.
The film is part comedy, part drama and all heart. It sets up the great relationship between Thelma and her grandson in the opening sequence, which is pivotal to the rest of the film while giving us an idea of Thelma’s day-to-day routine. This leads right into the why for her falling for the scam, which some might find ridiculous, but as someone whose parents almost fell for the same thing I can relate. The drama side is short-lived as we shift focus on justice and the comedy and hijinks ensue.
June Squibb is great in everything but seeing her here gets to lead the charge throughout just showcases what we all already know about her greatness as an actor. She brings an innocence to the role that shines through no matter the
emotions she is having to convey. At over 90 years old, she is hitting all the marks to perfection, getting the laughs and tears exactly when needed. Her running gag in the film of thinking she knows people brings some of the best laughs without being real comedy moments, but instead just life.
I loved her here and think she deserves recognition during awards season so crossing my fingers she gets it once again. The rest of the cast are great, but this is her show. The chemistry between her and Roundtree is excellent and makes you fully invest in this insane mission they take on. They never go too far over the top in its resolution and while far-fetched in some areas you easily still buy into it.
What I find most interesting here is that while the focus is on justice this film is about so much more. It’s about finding your place in the world as well as accepting life and the need for help sometimes. Squibb and Roundtree face a lot of these issues together here, but the different perspectives of their relationships are enduring and powerful in the understanding of dealing with age and death. The laughs come from poking fun at the very real stereotypes of aging, but also the truth behind it and acceptance of it all.
This movie is hilarious all around with Squibb pure perfection that will bring a smile to your face and injects so much love and laughter that I hope it finds the bigger audience it deserves. It isn’t the complicated drama or slapstick comedy, but it is the perfect balance of both and I loved every minute of it.
You can check out Thelma now streaming on Hulu from Magnolia Pictures.