How far would you push yourself to exact revenge on someone who did you wrong?
What if you were 93 years old? What would you do then?
This is the premise of a bright new action comedy called “Thelma,” in which a very feisty lady named Thelma Post is scammed by a male telephone caller, who pretends to be her slacker grandson, Daniel. It seems that Danny is in jail and needs $10,000 in cold hard cash in order to make bail.
The phone call is the only crime being committed because he isn’t really in trouble. However, Thelma, who has squirreled away more money in dresser drawers and on book shelves than many people have in their checking accounts, doesn’t know she’s being hoodwinked. She becomes heartsick that Danny, whom she adores, would have to spend more phony time in jail than he already has.
The scam works and Thelma delivers the cash to the caller. The police aren’t much help because computer crimes of this nature aren’t a high priority. Once Thelma realizes she’s been taken for a very conniving and convincing ride, she decides to take matters into her own hands. And, I mean that literally. Thelma is fiercely determined to reclaim her $10,000. Her age is irrelevant.
The focus of the movie is part good-natured, laugh-filled caper (Thelma’s plan is both clever and zany) and part successfully ambitious examination of the way senior citizens are treated in the United States. This includes being regulated because of income limits, shunted aside because they are aging, or, in some cases, forced to face the harsh truth that they live in a society in which they’re seen as easy marks for thievery. Of course, some people would prefer to ignore them altogether.
Elders with family members to help them are the lucky ones. The film doesn’t belabor the old age point once the adventure starts rolling. And it does prove that the world needs more people like Thelma. She’s not going to allow the embarrassment of being conned get the best of her. She’s going to let her well-placed anger and surprising energy make her day.
As you would expect, Danny is computer savvy; therefore, he can help solve the mystery of who scammed his grandmother. But as the caper ensues, Thelma needs a wheelman. Who ya gonna call? Well, not Ghostbusters, but the next best thing, her elderly friend Ben, who is not only eager for some excitement, but he’s also capable of being the voice of reason.
How all of this plays out is enjoyable summertime entertainment. The entire cast is sublime. Actress June Squibb, who brings delightfully grand gumption to the character of Thelma, will be 95 in November, so in theory she’s playing younger, which is fun in and of itself. After acting for decades, this is her first leading role. Regarding ageism in the motion picture business, Squibb has said that “rules are made to be broken.” When she was in her eighties, she received her first Academy Award nomination, for supporting actress for 2013’s “Nebraska.”
The legendary Richard Roundtree, 1971’s private detective John Shaft himself, is terrific as Ben, in what would turn out to be his final film role. Fred Hechinger is perfectly mellow and enthusiastic as Danny. Also on the plus side are Clark Gregg and Parker Posey as Danny’s concerned parents, as well as Malcolm McDowell, who, by coincidence, is shooting “The Panic” at Buffalo’s new Great Point movie studio. In “Thelma,” McDowell takes a walk on the dark side.
Regarding Thelma the woman, writer-director Josh Margolin, whose feature film debut this is, has crafted a wonderful character, who refuses to allow her spirit to be broken. He knows how to mix laughter and drama with equal aplomb. Earlier this year, moviegoers saw “The Beekeeper,” which had at its core the ruination of a woman because of a telephone scam and played out with violence and retribution.
With the enjoyable “Thelma,” which avoids violence, we have the determined mind of a cagey senior citizen ruling the roost. Director Margolin keeps things sweet and tidy, and he also flips “Mission: Impossible” on its head. Squibb might start thinking about another Oscar nomination. She’s twinkly and magical. You should start thinking about going to a theater to see what is genuinely a lot of fun.