THELMA 🤩

THELMA is the type of film that is made for a very specific audience and I am absolutely part of said group. It’s also a near-perfect film, blending so many real-life situations with a fun over-the-top Mission Impossible-esque adventure. THELMA is the brainchild of writer/director Josh Margolin who was inspired to make the film for his 103-year-old grandmother, Thelma. 

If you’ve ever had a kickass mom or grandmother, especially one you were or are close to, THELMA is for you. And also especially if this parent or grandparents is/was of the Silent or Greatest Generations (born 1901-1945).  The titular character of THELMA, in the movie, is 93 and she reminded me so much of my mother, who passed away in late 2021 at 88.  While the movie concentrates on the relationship between Thelma and her Gen Z grandson, it really can be a story about anyone with their older generation parent or grandparent. 

Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska), who turns 95 in November, brings Thelma to life in what she says is her first starring role! I hope to see her name pop up in the nominees for Best Actress next year because she deserves all the accolades. Richard Roundtree, famous for playing Shaft, portrays Thelma’s friend Ben. Unfortunately, Roundtree passed away last fall, which makes his wonderful turn in THELMA all the more bittersweet. THE WHITE LOTUS fans will recognize one of the original resort goers, Fred Hechinger, who plays Thelma’s nephew Danny, filling in as a surrogate for Margolin who dedicated the movie to his grandmother. Hechinger starred as Quinn Mossbacher in S1 of THE WHITE LOTUS. The always delightful Parker Posey and Clark Gregg play Danny’s parents and Thelma’s daughter and son-in-law respectively. The cast clicks in a way that I can imagine them being a real family that cares and loves for their matriarch Thelma. 

There are a lot of moments in THELMA that I felt were taken directly from my life and my relationship with my mom. It reminded me that even though we all have unique experiences there are just some things that transcend our differences. The film succeeds at finding the humor in things elderly folks might not understand as well as younger people (like newer technology) but it never punches down. Of course, my mother never had quite the adventure Thelma did..or maybe she did. That’s another part of the magic of THELMA the film. Sometimes we don’t know our elders as well as we think we do. 

I have only minor critiques. While some films don’t quite push what they’re trying to say to the audience far enough. THELMA has a few moments that go on a bit too long. A particular scene might already be a 10 so there’s no reason to push it to 11. Also, while the dialogue between Thelma and her family is 100% spot on, some conversations between Thelma and Ben feel very much like a younger person trying to imagine how folks in their 90s talk to each other, instead of how they actually talk to each other. None of this should deter you from seeing what I believe will be one of the most delightful films of the year.

THELMA is currently playing in theatres.