Thelma (12A)

★★★✭ June Squibb is a delight in this sweet comedy about an irrepressible 93-year-old who won't take being scammed lying down. ~ Little White Lies.

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The feature directorial debut of Josh Margolin, THELMA is a poignant action-comedy that gives veteran Oscar nominee June Squibb (Nebraska) her first leading role and features the final performance of trailblazing actor Richard Roundtree (Shaft).

Squibb, who did most of her own stunts in the film, plays Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson (The White Lotus’ Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by an aging friend (Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.

Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, Nicole Byer, and Malcolm McDowell also star.

Inspired by a real-life experience of Margolin’s own grandmother, THELMA puts a clever spin on movies like MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, shining the spotlight on an elderly grandmother as an unlikely action hero.

With infectious humour, Margolin employs the familiar tropes of the action genre in hilarious, age-appropriate ways to tackle aging with agency.

In the first leading film role of her 70-year career, Squibb portrays the strong-willed Thelma with grit and determination, demonstrating that she is more than capable of taking care of business – despite what her daughter Gail (Posey), son-in-law Alan (Gregg), or grandson Danny might believe.

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★★★★ An exquisite hug of a film about a grandma on a mission. ~ The Times.

★★★★ Surprisingly exciting and laugh-out-loud funny, Thelma is a warm-hearted joyride. If anything, it’ll make you really want to pick up the phone and call your own grandma. ~ Empire.

★★★★ The fact that the film gives June Squibb – the type of actor most people know as scene-stealing characters rather than by name – her first leading film role at the age of 94 is reason enough to see it. ~ The Observer. 

★★★★ Squibb’s warm but wily gran-with-a-plan turns this elder-scam revenge spree into a winning comedy. ~ Total Film.

★★★★ ~ Irish Independent.

★★★★ ~ Irish Times.