The new crime comedy Thelma, now playing in theatres, features a scene-stealing (and money-stealing) performance from the greatest action star of summer 2024: 93-year-old June Squibb.
That’s no joke: June Squibb has been performing on stage and in film for almost 70 years, but this is her first lead role in a movie. Thelma gives Squibb (Oscar nominee for 2013’s Nebraska) at long last the chance to show her heart, humour and perseverance as a formidable actor and true star.
Playing the title character, Thelma tracks a 91-year-old woman’s quest to get her money back from a scammer when she’s tricked into telephone fraud. Teaming up with her skittish grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) and friend Ben (a warm Richard Roundtree), she shuffles and scooters across town in secret to find the fraudsters and take them down.
Squibb is clever, honest, and determined across every scene. Her performance is the perfect balance between her realistic physical limitations and resourcefulness to overcome them.
Writer and director Josh Margolin makes his feature-length debut with a clear vision for finding practical stakes and suspense for his senior cast. His eye for conflict and stakes in Thelma’s journey to right her wrong finds creative obstacles for her to overcome, and it’s presented on screen in a way that feels sincere and just the right amount of silly.
Small moments, like struggling to climb a shelf, remember directions, or log in to a computer, are all realistic threats to Thelma’s success. But Thelma’s limitations are never the butt of any jokes – rather, her pluck to overcome them is celebrated. That’s the key to the story’s success.
The supporting cast has their moments to shine (especially a very funny cameo from Nicole Byer as a seniors’ home staff), but this show really belongs to Thelma, Danny and Ben. Squibb and Roundtree also make for a great team, and it’s especially great seeing Roundtree in what would be his final film role before he passed away last year.
Margolin and Squibb prove to be a great pairing of filmmaker and star – and just as Thelma sees on her TV, Tom Cruise would be proud of this small, smart crime caper. In a summer of loud blockbusters, Thelma is a refreshing and fun night out at the movies.
Thelma
7 out of 10
Rated 14A, 1 hour, 38 minutes, Crime Comedy.
Written and directed by Josh Margolin.
Starring June Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg and Malcolm McDowell.
Now playing at Cineplex theatres.
