Thelma (2024) Review: An Action Hero on a Scooter

Is Thelma worth watching?

Yes. Thelma is a delightful, big-hearted comedy that spoofs action movies while taking its elderly heroine completely seriously, and June Squibb is wonderful in a long-overdue leading role. Josh Margolin finds real tension and plenty of laughs in the slow-motion dangers of old age, from stairs to phone scams. The reservation is that the premise is slight, and the film’s modest scale and gentle tone mean it charms more than it surprises.

What is Thelma about?

Thelma follows Thelma Post (Squibb), a widowed grandmother living independently in Los Angeles, who adores her grandson Daniel (Fred Hechinger) and fiercely resists her family’s worries about her safety. When she receives a frantic phone call from someone she believes is Daniel, saying he is in trouble and needs money, she sends cash, only to discover she has been scammed.

Rather than accept defeat, Thelma decides to get her money back herself. She enlists an old friend, Ben (Richard Roundtree), who lives in a retirement community and owns a mobility scooter, and together they set off across the city on an unlikely mission. Parker Posey co-stars as Thelma’s daughter. Margolin, who wrote and directed the film, has said it was inspired by an experience of his own grandmother. The American film is in English, runs 98 minutes and is rated PG-13. It premiered at Sundance in 2024.

Margolin plays old age like an action movie

The film’s cleverest idea is to borrow the grammar of action cinema, especially the Mission: Impossible films that Thelma enjoys, and apply it to the everyday challenges of old age. A tricky staircase, a hearing aid, a borrowed scooter and a crowded antiques shop become sites of genuine suspense. Margolin stages these moments with playful seriousness, using music and editing to heighten the tension, and the result is both funny and quietly poignant.

This approach also gives the film its thematic heart. Beneath the comedy, Thelma is about independence and the fear of losing it, about how older people are underestimated and infantilised, and about the balance between safety and dignity. Margolin handles these ideas with a light touch, never letting them become preachy.

June Squibb’s triumphant lead

Squibb, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Nebraska, is superb. Her Thelma is stubborn, funny, resourceful and occasionally vulnerable, and Squibb plays her with a dry comic timing and a steely determination that make her an utterly convincing action hero. She reportedly performed much of her own physical business, and her commitment lends the film its credibility.

Richard Roundtree, the star of Shaft, gives a warm, dignified performance as Ben in one of his final screen roles, and his chemistry with Squibb is lovely, full of bickering and affection. Fred Hechinger is endearing as the anxious, directionless Daniel, whose relationship with his grandmother forms the film’s emotional backbone. Parker Posey and Clark Gregg add comic energy as Thelma’s worried family.

Where the mission stays small

Thelma’s charm lies in its modesty, but that also limits it. The plot is thin, and some sequences feel stretched even at a trim 98 minutes. The family subplot involving Daniel’s struggles to find direction is sweet but underdeveloped, and the film’s resolution is more gentle than cathartic. Viewers expecting a sharp satire of scammers or ageism may find it too soft-edged.

Who should watch Thelma?

This is perfect for multigenerational viewing: grandparents, parents and teenagers will all find something to enjoy. It is an easy recommendation for anyone who likes warm, character-driven drama with comic energy. It is rated PG-13 for some language and mild peril, but there is nothing graphic. Check the where-to-watch details for current streaming options.

If you enjoy it, Squibb’s performance in Nebraska is a natural next step, and Richard Roundtree fans may want to revisit Shaft for the role that made him a star.

The verdict

Thelma is a delightful, heartfelt comedy that turns the everyday perils of old age into an action adventure, anchored by June Squibb’s triumphant lead. Its story is slight and its tone gentle, but its warmth, humour and respect for its heroine make it a small film that punches well above its weight.

Rating: 4.1/5