Thelma - Sundance Review

Senior alert! Don’t worry, they rarely go far.

Thelma is a 2024 film that made its escape to the Sundance Film Festival premiere. An old woman is scammed over the phone. Instead of giving in, Thelma goes on an adventure to retrieve her money.

I have not laughed at a film like this in a long time! The Sundance Film Festival is a blessing. Thelma is a love letter to old people and focuses on the loving relationship between a grandmother and a grandchild. Except, it completely ignores that plotline, missing a golden opportunity to explore more depths.

June Squibb deserves an award for her performance. She has had an amazing career. Well in her 90s, Squibb did all her own stunts - sans using the computer. Thelma does not mess around on her mission, though she stops to talk to people she may know. Squibb is hilarious as Thelma. She is ready for anything.

The relationship between Thelma and her 24-year-old grandson, Danny is one of the most genuine depictions of grandparents and grandchildren. Danny is so caring. I love how Fred Hechinger played this role. Danny doesn’t have adult life down, but he is resourceful when it comes to his grandmother. He patiently waits for his grandmother for a half hour.

Here’s where my opinion of the film falls flat. Instead of focusing on the main relationship, Thelma goes on her mission with Ben, a resident of the nursing home. Thelma and Ben are two senior citizens who make the usual jokes about being old. Squibb and the late Richard Roundtree are great together. They were hilarious in their motorscooter fight!

Nothing against the late Richard Roundtree, but the film completely misses its point! Danny should have been the one to go on the mission. His subplot with his overprotective parents (Parker Posey and Clark Gregg) wasn’t necessary. Danny’s conversation about feeling useless was more suitable to have with his grandmother.

As much as I enjoyed Thelma, it didn’t insert the right characters for the storyline. There’s one scene that didn’t put Thelma in the right light when she says she longs for independence. If a sequel is ever made it should be between Thelma and Danny, like what this movie should have been.

Josh Margolin based Thelma on his grandmother (who is 103) and a real fraud situation that happened. Thelma’s flat was filmed in Margolin’s actual Grandmother’s apartment. Events didn’t play out like in the film but it was all based on the ‘what if.’ You always need to think about the ‘what if.’ It leads to several creative opportunities.

It’s a different detective story. Filmmakers got the okay from the Mission Impossible films to use their musical theme! We don’t have enough movies about old people. Based on this film, you can create new ideas. The best idea is the hearing aid app on the phone. Thelma and Ben have secret conversations and stay in touch.

Thelma is hilarious. I attended virtually but this a movie I would love to experience audience reaction with. I watched this movie with my grandmother and we had the best time laughing. We found this movie so relatable.

Like Thelma and Danny, we were also bickered over my grandmother’s hearing aid at the beginning. I’ve lived with my grandmother for almost a decade. Not every grandchild has the opportunity to do that.

As one of the cast members described the film, Thelma has a compulsing family heart. Watch this film with your grandparents once it’s released. It’s funny, has a heart, and it’s entertaining.