Review: June Squibb is charming as a grandmother on a mission in ‘Thelma’

There are a lot of bad comedies about and supposedly for old people. It’s especially depressing because the worst criminals, the ones who not only feel petty and lazy but also exploitative, often feature our best actors. They can take on the air of an unintentional horror film – and not the fun kind.

“Thelma,” starring June SquibbIt’s not one of those.

In her first leading film role, she plays a 90-something woman who is scammed out of $10,000 and goes on a mission to get it back. Revenge stories aren’t always (or ever) described as sweet, but that’s the magic of “Thelma,” the debut feature film from writer-director Josh Margolin that hits theaters this week. It’s charming, genuinely funny, and easy to watch.

Perhaps it works so well on a fundamental level because Margolin wrote it with her own grandmother (also named Thelma) in mind. While there’s something inherently silly and silly about the idea of ​​a grandmother on a “Mission: Impossible”-style journey, “Thelma” transcends its limitations on paper and becomes something entirely unexpected. Kind of like your main character. This isn’t just the idea of ​​an elderly person involved in a high-concept joke. It’s specific and at least somewhat realistic. The scooter she is the late Richard Roundtree (like his friend Ben) walking may be slower than Tom Cruise walking, but the energy is high and infectious.

Squibb is absolutely wonderful at the center of the film, with impeccable comedic timing and complete command of her character. Thelma lives alone at 93 years old. She lost her husband a few years earlier. Many of her friends are gone. But she still doesn’t see herself in an assisted living situation, or even using a life monitor in case she falls. “If I fall, I’m toast,” she jokes. “That’s why I don’t fall.”

And she is doing very well. Her loving 20-something grandson, Daniel (Fred Hechinger from the first season of “The White Lotus”), visits often to help with the computer and just hang out. When he’s gone, she fills her days with all her chores: sorting pills, doing exercise on the stationary bike, watching YouTube videos, trying to comment, trying to rewind and proofread typos, and accidentally posting blurry photos of nothing on her stories. Instagram.

That is until she receives a panicked phone call from someone claiming to be her grandson. He’s been in an accident, he says, and she needs to send $10,000 in cash to rescue him. When the family starts to answer the phone, the money is already in the mail and the police tell them there is nothing that can be done. Her family, including Daniel’s mom Gail (Parker Posey) and dad (Clark Gregg), basically wash their hands of it. But Thelma only has time and wants to do something about it.

Margolin’s film was made independently. It debuted earlier this year on Sundance Film Festival and was picked up for a theatrical release. But he had his team make it feel commercial and buttoned-up with a fun, ’60s-inspired soundtrack by Nick Chuba.

Things really come to life when Roundtree (fantastic, in his final role) enters the scene as his reluctant accomplice on his road trip from the west side of Los Angeles to Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley. She doesn’t drive and needs the refurbished scooter he talks about so much – but he won’t let her drive it alone.

They have a great relationship – an inspired duo. The Posey/Gregg/Hechinger trio isn’t too bad either, spouting comedic banter that makes them instantly believable as a family unit. One standout sequence involves one of those dreaded Waze-driven left turns in Los Angeles on a busy four-lane highway.

But this is ultimately Squibb’s show and she delivers, as she always does. She should have been leading films all along and finally doing something about it.

“Thelma,” Magnolia Pictures’ theatrical release Friday, has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “strong language.” Running time: 97 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.