THELMA

Thelma gives legendary actress June Squibb the leading role in a full blown action revenge film full of heart, great action set pieces and some of the best laughs you will find at the movies this summer.

June Squibb has always been an absolute treasure, but Thelma offers up a dazzling showcase for her talent in an unforgettable leading role. Starring as Thelma, a 93-year-old woman who falls victim to a phone scammer who pretends to be her grandson who has just been arrested and mails this individual $10,000, Squibb brings a killer comedic energy to the film. Whether it be her trying to use technology or understand Facebook and wondering why Mark Zuckerberg won’t stop these scammers, or her never ending feeling that she knows people she passes on the street that she has never met before, Squibb’s infectious energy washes over the audience with a sincerity and determination as she takes Thelma on this wonderful adventure. It’s a sensational performance that creates the beating heart of the film where Squibb never fails to entertain, while creating a heartfelt portrayal of an aging senior in an ever changing world.

The supporting cast itself is wonderful with the likes of Fred Hechinger as Thelma’s grandson Daniel who has a wonderful bond with Squibb, Richard Roundtree as Thelma’s partner in crime Ben, or Parker Posey and Clark Gregg as Thelma’s concerned daughter and son-in-law, all of whom are great additions to the film. And it’s impossible to forget Nicole Byer and Quinn Bestwick in their scene stealing moments as the care home workers who have to break the news to her family that Thelma broke out.

The film itself stages many of the sequences like it is a bombastic action film, such as Thelma’s break out of the senior retirement home on her electric buggy that feels like a chase sequence out of a Fast & Furious film, or the fight at the end of the film with its editing to build the dramatic climax. Aiding in all of this is a musical score that builds the intensity over the course of the film and evokes a true blockbuster feel to the action sequences despite the film itself being this small independent production. It truly is Mission: Impossible if Ethan Hunt was a 93-year-old grandmother played by Squibb, and it's one highly entertaining film for the entire family to enjoy… but especially your grandmother!

But, for as funny as the film is, there is an honesty in the writing that informs the entire film. The idea from the film comes from writer and director Josh Margolin’s own life, as his grandmother was a target to a phone scam, which becomes the blueprint for the film’s first act as Thelma and her family frantically panic in fear that Daniel has found himself in trouble. The rest of the story is made up after Thelma hands over the money, but the heart that informs Thelma is personal to Margolin, who makes a strong feature directorial debut. There is a beauty in Thelma’s view of the world, her tenacity and endearing spirit that informs the entire film, making for one of the most sweet and hilarious revenge films you will ever watch.

No matter the film she is starring in, June Squibb is always a miraculous delight that will bring a massive smile to audiences’ faces. But Squibb takes it to the next level as the starring role in the action revenge comedy Thelma, once again bringing her signature energy to this film that is the film Tom Cruise will want to be making in his nineties. Full of great action set pieces and laugh out loud moments, Josh Margolin creates a truly crowd pleasing film with his feature directorial debut with a great cast, but it is June Squibb’s stellar lead performance and the screenplay that infuses Thelma with an undeniable heart in this portrayal of an aging senior who breaks out for one memorable last adventure.