‘Thelma’ reviews: June Squibb is a ‘powerful force’ and unlikely action hero in absolute ‘gem of a movie’

On June 21, 2024, Magnolia Pictures released “Thelma” starring Oscar nominee June Squibb as a 93-year-old woman who gets duped by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson. Fueled with rage, Thelma sets out on a treacherous quest across the city to reclaim what was taken from her.

Written and directed by Josh Margolin, the film is inspired by his grandmother’s real-life experience. “Thelma” puts a clever spin on movies like “Mission: Impossible,” shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero. Squibb’s co-stars include Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell. It currently holds an impressive freshness rating of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, the critics consensus reads, “A stellar showcase for the talented June Squibb, ‘Thelma’ avoids cheap laughs as it finds the lighter side of some serious issues.” Read our full review round-up below.

SEE ‘Thelma’ trailer: June Squibb takes on phone scammers as Hollywood’s newest action hero [WATCH]

Adrian Horton of The Guardian says, “It’s likely to draw laughs if you’ve ever coached someone on how to use a computer, tears if you’ve ever loved an elderly person who held tightly to their dignity. And Squibb is as understatedly funny and commanding as you’d expect.” 

Peter Gray of The AU Review praises the film, stating, “Detailing the pitfalls of aging with dignity, grace and genuine humour, ‘Thelma’ is a gem of a movie that should earn universal appeal, even if audiences of a certain generation will relate to it on a more personal level.” Adding, “As it culminates in a showdown of sorts with the individuals that took Thelma’s money (a certain name in the credits should easily indicate just which actor will pop up as the criminal ‘mastermind’), Margolin, ever so sweetly, drives home the importance of family and the reality of mortality (and morality).”

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Kevin Fallon of The Daily Beast notes, “Squibb’s steely determination is perfect for a movie like this, mined for the type of comedy about ‘old people’ that you might expect. But she and the film subverts those laughs to drive home a touching truth: It’s egregious the extent to which the elderly are discounted, coddled, or made to be invisible. Squibb is a powerful force, hitting every nuance of heartbreak, resolve, and humor as she relishes something entirely rare, if not non-existent: the action comedy with a 94-year-old actress at the center. Her delivery of the line ‘I didn’t expect to get so old’ is an emotional dagger, the heart-wrenching thesis behind the whole film.”

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com writes, “’Thelma’ is such a lovely little film largely because of how much Squibb brings to it (including doing all her own stunts). It’s a deftly wonderful performance that holds back a film that feels like it could have easily turned the elderly into either easy targets for humor or maudlin sentimentality. Squibb knows the tough tonal tightrope here of realism and goofy humor, and she nails it. And Margolin smartly weaves themes through ‘Thelma’ without pounding them, such as when Thelma visits a woman who doesn’t have a Danny in her life. Thelma is a strong, confident woman, but this is also a film about companionship, and those relationships like grandmother and grandchild that can define us. People are going to love it.”

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