When one approaches "Thelma," the debut film by Josh Margolin, you may deceive yourself with preconceived idea of what to expect. Essentially a love letter to his own family, most evidently his grandmother (the film's dedication is "for Thelma"), "Thelma" is a poignant and humorous acknowledgement of senior citizens by a young filmmaker.
The film masterfully portrays the extraordinary relationship between 93-year-old Thelma (June Squibb) and her Gen Z grandson, Daniel (Fred Hechinger), an easy-going slacker. The depth and authenticity of their intergenerational bond are beautifully portrayed by Squibb and Hechinger without resorting to melodrama or unnecessary backstory. Such scenes are typically only seen when the grandchild is a minor, not 24 - a facet that enriches the narrative, as newly adult and elderly relationships set the stage for riveting dynamics.
The film explores this by highlighting the similar experiences Thelma and Daniel face - being infantilized particularly by Daniel’s parents, Thelma’s daughter Gail (Parker Posey), and her husband, Alan (Clark Gregg). Introduced during their busy workdays, they are unable to answer Thelma's urgent calls, which eventually leads to her falling victim to a phone scam that ropes her of $10,000.
The film delicately portrays the ensuing humiliation and forces Gail and Alan to ponder about whether it's time to admit Thelma to a home. But Thelma has other plans - she resolves to recover her lost money.
Margolin, who belongs to the improv comedy realm, confidently combines his comedic background into the writing, directing, and editing of "Thelma". His keen editing senses reflect a sharp comic timing and his dynamic camera angles result in a humorous imitation of “Mission: Impossible.”
Richard Roundtree’s final feature film appearance as a widower, Ben, and Thelma’s unanticipated ally is a touching farewell. Resisting the temptation to parody his iconic character John Shaft, Roundtree delivers a complete and compelling performance that exceeds previous typcast roles.
The film's heart and soul, however, lies with June Squibb's performance. Her Thelma isn't a typical elderly character trope - she's a strong and independent character refusing to be a victim, which is as heroic as ever. Unarguably, Squibb's 78 years of acting experience shines through in every frame, making her performance the film's cornerstone.
