Thelma was first reviewed at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

I’ll never forget my first college internship. Deep in the course of trying to make a good impression, I ignored a call from my grandparents. When I did finally get a spare moment to listen to their voicemail, I was struck by the panic in my grandmother’s voice. What she was saying did not make much sense, and I hurriedly lept to return their call. After a few minutes of trying to convince them I actually was their grandson on the line, I learned that they had received a scam call from “me” from jail and had been duped into sending money to bail me out. A decade has passed, and that event is one that still fills me with anger against those who wronged my grandparents. While they may have never gotten the chance to get back their money, the new Sundance comedy Thelma at least allows those who have experienced such a situation to vicariously turn the tables on those who prey on the vulnerable.

Thelma Post (June Squibb, Nebraska) is a 93-year-old woman who has lived on her own for a couple of years following the loss of her husband. She is often visited by her grandson, Danny (Fred Hechinger, Butcher’s Crossing), a lovable goof who lacks purpose but has his heart in the right place. The two watch movies like Mission: Impossible, futz around on the internet, and share stories about their lives. He doesn’t feel young, and she doesn’t feel old. When she is on her own, she is constantly keeping busy around the house – cleaning up, leaving supportive YouTube comments, etc. When she receives a phone call eerily similar to the one detailed above, she ends up mailing cash to help out her grandson before realizing what has happened. It is not just the money that bothers her, it is the implication to her family that she might not be able to take care of herself any longer.

Thelma is not a woman to sit back and let her independence be taken from her. While her neurotic family, played to perfection by Parker Posey and Clark Gregg, are wrapped up in determining her next steps, Thelma takes it upon herself to embark upon a journey across town to not only get her money back but prove that she is not to be discounted so easily. Of course, despite her protest to the contrary, she will need help, which comes in the form of the late, great legend Richard Roundtree as Ben, an old friend who has the latest in motorscooter technology to actually get the journey going. Roundtree is invaluable in one of his final roles, and the two prove to be one of the early contenders for onscreen duo of the year.

The film brilliantly takes notes from the aforementioned Tom Cruise action franchise and even elements of other genres such as film noir and adapts it to the life of a nonagenarian. Instead of your typical journey through a grimy strip club as a signal you are entering the seedy underbelly, you get interpretive dancing at a senior center. “High-speed” chases for this generation manifest on motorscooters and the sharp inhale of breath you take during a harrowing stunt happens to be in response to a character getting safely on or off of a bed. The movie gets very inventive when it comes to the current hearing aid technology as it shakes up the classic “man in the van” trope. The narrative consistently subverts what we know about the genre to deliver genuine intrigue and thrills, especially with a finale that will resonate with anyone who has ever tried to teach an older generation about technology.

The movie has fun with the inherent limitations of our elderly protagonist, but it is very deliberate in never poking fun at her. At least one broadly appealing movie comes out every year that treats its older stars like a sideshow attraction. Thelma uses this character’s age as an important part of exposing her internal life. It is not uncommon for a person to feel out of sync with their body; you can’t always will it to do what you think it should be able to. To Thelma, to admit she is aging means putting a limitation on her freedom. She is already wrestling with the conflicting feelings of both losing her life partner and embracing the possibilities that come with being alone. To ask for help would be tantamount to making her funeral plans for a life she is still discovering and embracing every day. Yet, it is important for one of the things she discovers to be the good that can come from admitting you need a helping hand.

Director Josh Margolin created this movie in response to the love and admiration he has for his own grandmother. She is an action hero in his eyes, and this story gamely captures the reduced-scale blockbuster story that exemplifies her spirit. No actor could be more perfectly suited for this role than June Squibb, who makes the most in her first leading role in her seven decades in the business. Squibb is equal parts hilarious, fearless, and emotionally vulnerable in a way that brings great complexity to what could be a two-dimensional role. More than any movie in recent memory, Thelma celebrates the oldest among us by embracing their unique experiences and proving that it is never too late to be an action star.

Video Quality

Magnolia Home Entertainment brings Thelma to Blu-Ray with a rich 1080p video presentation. The transfer provides a valuable amount of depth on display, especially in the interior shots. When this film goes into more dimly lit areas or explores out in the world, the details present as impressively sharp in all lighting conditions. The image is clean with the natural color palette shining off the screen. The film employs splashes of colors within the clothing and production design, which can make the aesthetic a little more striking. The black levels are deep and detailed, but digital noise does prove to be a very slight issue at certain moments in the film. The flesh tones are natural with gentle nuances showcased well in close-ups and medium shots. Magnolia provided a really strong transfer for this one.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that offers a perfectly balanced listening experience. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever succumbing to concurrent voices or other overbearing noises. Everything is mixed favorably with directional accuracy across all channels. The sounds of the scooter moving through the city provide a good amount of activity in the rear channels, and music stirs up some decent activity in the low end. The soundtrack complements the mood of the narrative, and this track does a great job of permeating the room with the cues. This track handles everything that is thrown at it without issue. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

June Squibb on Thelma: A two-minute interview with the star in which she discusses her response to the script, how she relates to the character, how she feels to lead a film, and more.

Richard Roundtree on Thelma: A nearly two-minute look at the work of Roundtree in the supporting role, the qualities he brings to the character, his collaborations with June Squibb, and much more.

Final Thoughts

Thelma is one of the true gems of the year. After a truly unbelievable career, it is such a joy to see June Squibb get a chance to lead a movie, and she runs with the opportunity to become the movie star we did not know we needed. The script takes a small yet harrowing concept and explodes it into one of the most entertaining efforts you will see all year. If we got more movies like this, the cinematic landscape would be a much richer place. Magnolia Home Entertainment has released a Blu-Ray that sports fantastic A/V presentation and some good special features. Highly Recommended

Thelma is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Magnolia Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.