'Thelma' Is The Mission: Impossible Movie Every Grandma Deserves!

Everyone loves a good action movie, right? Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but I sure do enjoy a good action movie, and I know a lot of other people do. There’s something about seeing these heroes do some crazy stuff in action sequences that keep the adrenaline up that is just infectious. I’ve loved them since I was 5, I still love them in my early-20s, and I know I will love them when I reach the age of “fossil” (that’s how I’ll like to be called when I’m old at least).

However, a common complaint from many viewers, both fans and non-fans of the genre alike, is that so many action movies can feel the same nowadays. It is a complaint I can see as valid when I go to an action movie that feels like it was made by a paint-by-numbers guide for action movies. Sentiments like that is the reason why Josh Margolin’s Thelma stands out as an exceptional achievement.

Thelma is about a 93-year-old grandmother (played by the iconic June Squibb) getting scammed into sending $10,000 after thinking her grandson got in an accident. Once she realizes her money went to a wrong cause, she takes matters into her own hands by “borrowing” a scooter from her friend (played by the late, great Richard Roundtree) and setting off to take back what was rightfully hers, in the only way a grandma could.

If that sounds like a silly premise, you’re not wrong! The movie absolutely lives in the realm of action-comedy as it highly dramatizes some situations that wouldn’t seem like action sequences due to the elderly nature of the main cast members. But as we like to say here at Young Hollywood, “It’s not about age, it’s about attitude!” and Thelma has a no-BS attitude from minute one. Though she is 93 and not able to do the types of things her grandson can physically, she always keeps her head held high as she persists through her obstacles — both from circumstance and age. It’s almost surprising watching this movie as you start to feel some legit excitement as Thelma maneuvers herself to the end goal. Frankly, that is nothing short of inspirational, and that alone makes Thelma such a worthwhile watch.

But wait, there’s more! This movie also has such a massive heart as it discusses the topic of age in more ways than one. When the movie starts, Thelma has been living by herself for roughly a year and has made the effort to keep pushing through, even though she often misses her husband. On the flipside, Richard Roundtree’s character has been living in an elderly home for a couple years and has no shame in the fact that he is in the position of needing dedicated help/services most of the time. These conflicting viewpoints often come into play as they try to find a means to cope with their own mortality in the midst of a very stressful situation. Balancing these scenes with the action should have been an impossible mission, but Margolin chose to accept that with grace as he blends the various tones and themes of this movie into such a beautiful story.

This past weekend, I attended a screening of Thelma that featured a Q&A (moderated by the amazing Scott Mantz) with Josh Margolin, alongside producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye, where I had the opportunity to tell them that I loved the film and how much it made me think of my own grandmothers. Their responses to me directly and during the Q&A were all so genuine and so loving that it made my heart grow three sizes too large. By the time I made it back to my car, I couldn’t help but keep smiling.

Actually, that is the best way to sum up Thelma: a movie that keeps you smiling for hours after you see it. So, if any of you have been waiting for June Squibb to take a run at Tom Cruise’s action hero title in a fun and heartfelt action-comedy, then you better grab your scooters and rush your way over to your nearest theater to go see Thelma! If for no other reason than to show that those scammers are no match for June Squibb (not that we ever thought the scammers had a chance)!