If Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise can do his own high-speed stunts while in his 60s, nonagenarian June Squibb can man a motorized scooter in Thelma (2024).
For Squibb, “slow and steady wins the race” since the Vandalia native made her movie debut in Woody Allen’s fantastical comedy Alice (1990) when she was in her 60s. At 70-something, she nabbed an Oscar nomination for playing Bruce Dern’s wife in Alexander Payne’s dramedy Nebraska (2013). And now that the character actress is 94, she’s doing press for her first starring role.
Thelma also marks the directorial debut of Josh Margolin, who penned a heartfelt comedy that manages to be sincere without being sappy. It opens in a very Payne way with shots of the titular character’s possessions. But quickly switches to a Paul Thomas Anderson tone. Like Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) in Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Thelma falls prey to a phone hoax and makes the seemingly unwise decision to track down and confront the culprits.
Margolin’s movie has the same kind of offbeat yet totally authentic humor that can only stem from real life. While Anderson was inspired by a strange but true story about Healthy Choice pudding, Margolin transformed a scam targeted at his grandmother (who appears during the end credits) into his script’s premise and even used her condo as one of the film’s sets.
Although parts of the plot may seem far-fetched, the characters are as genuine as Squibb’s wrinkled (and beautiful) face. A younger actress made to look old with prosthetics or an older actress with too much plastic surgery wouldn’t be as convincing as the irrefutable Ms. Squibb, who literally drives the action in a career-best performance.
Her co-star, the late Richard Roundtree of Shaft fame, is also excellent in his final film role. As her levelheaded friend Ben, he is the foil to feisty Thelma. Together, they escape his nursing home and her family to retrieve the $10,000 she lost to a pair of swindlers played by a Keanu Reeves-like Aidan Fiske and an odd-sounding Malcolm McDowell.
Thelma’s disappearance stresses out her already high-strung daughter (the always hilarious Parker Posey), son-in-law (the always likable Clark Gregg), and adoring albeit angsty grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger). The bond between this Gen Z flounderer and his Greatest Generation grandmother serves the story, but the unneeded scene with his former girlfriend (Coral Peña) temporarily diverts the otherwise tight screenplay.
A more essential character is Ben’s near-catatonic roommate Starey Gary (David Giuliani). His deadpan appearance adds to the movie’s many funny scenes — from a running gag with Thelma recognizing people she doesn’t know to her riotous scooter chase which is aided by the comic timing of Margolin’s film editing and Nick Chuba’s satirical score.
In addition to amusing dialogue delivered in a natural way, the movie delivers laugh out loud moments of Thelma navigating online ads. Yet none of the jokes are at her expense. Instead of being mean-spirited, the humor stems from sincere sources. With bittersweetness bubbling beneath the lighthearted surface, Thelma is a human comedy that reflects the latter stage in life.
If given wide distribution, this highly recommended movie could very well become a summer sleeper. Hopefully, its leading lady will be remembered come awards season. Thelma opened this weekend and can currently be seen at Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville, AMC Theatres, Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, Music Box Theatre, and Regal Webster Place.
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