Thelma Review

May 5

I was told this was a heartwarming, well-done movie going in. So, I had high hopes. I’m thrilled to say that it didn’t disappoint.

I was also told to expect tears, which left me really concerned…

So what is Thelma? A ninety-four-year-old widow still lives at home, taking care of everything herself. She has a grandson who seems to dote on her, helping her with computer basics and encouraging her to wear her Life Alert bracelet.

When one day she gets a call from grandson Daniel, saying he’s been in an accident. He’s in jail. The lawyer is going to call to arrange bail.

Now, I’m not sure if you’re familiar with scams and the way they target the elderly, but this was pretty spot on. Sure enough, wasn’t Daniel. Just a young man sounding similar enough, with what he says is “a broken nose”, to fool Thelma into sending $10,000.

Then the scam’s revealed.

Now at this point in the movie, it could be purely an investigative tale of the police going after a scam artist trying to rob little old ladies out of their savings.

But Thelma doesn’t let that lie. She goes after the scammer herself.

Imagine the film RED, but instead of retired special forces, you had a stay-at-home needle-pointer on her own Mission: Impossible.

It. Was. Delightful. She didn’t take the needles. No. She brought a GUN.

Two stolen scooters. Two scooter crashes. Several gunshots, and one pretty decent explosion. Thelma skillfully played by June Squibb, and her partner in crime played marvelously by the late Richard Roundtree. The cast was filled out by Parker Posey, MCU alum Clark Gregg, and grandson Daniel portrayed by Fred Hechinger.

Stay to the end, and see the inspiration behind the movie – Director and Writer Josh Margolin’s actual grandma, Thelma.