Film review: ‘THELMA’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
For some, June Squibb will be best remembered as Bruce Dern’s long-suffering wife in Alexander Payne’s Nebraska, or Sheldon’s flinty grandma in The Big Bang Theory. She’s been acting in movies since 1990 but the uneven yet touching comedy Thelma is her first leading role.
Squibb plays the 90-something title character who’s still adjusting to life after her husband’s death. She’s desperate to maintain her independence and not wind up in a nursing home but she’s struggling with the complexities of a technology driven world. Her daughter Gail (Posie Parker) and son-in-law Alan (Clark Gregg) become more determined to put her in a home when a phone scammer cons her out of 10 grand. The indomitable Thelma, however, decides she’s going to prove her independence by tracking down the crims.
Somewhere in this film is a charming, amusing and poignant story about a feisty senior citizen confronting the realities of ageing, asserting herself and finding a rejuvenating purpose in life. Unfortunately, because of scripting issues, that story isn’t allowed to fully flower. The film is full of strangely awkward and unfunny dialogue with gags that don’t quite work and too much squabbling between Thelma, Gail, Alan and scruffy grandson Daniel (Ben Hechinger). At times the dialogue sounds like messy improv.
The other problem is that the story relies on highly unlikely situations. After Thelma disappears with friend Ben (the original ‘Shaft’, Richard Roundtree) the family just about nab her but Thelma and Ben escape in broad daylight on a mobility scooter. Also, a subplot about the grandson trying to find his way in life is so thinly sketched it carries no emotional weight and just seems like an odd distraction.
Where the film works well and is genuinely affecting, though, is in the way it examines the loneliness and disconnection many elderly people experience and the personal qualities and abilities they still have that are overlooked.
The film also offers a decent showcase for June Squibb who imbues Thelma with a cheeky cynical wit and manages to make the most of a few genuinely funny lines. Richard Roundtree also elevates the film delivering a dignified performance as Ben. Malcolm McDowell, however, feels wasted as a low-grade crim.
As a meditation on ageing the film strikes some powerful notes but as a caper comedy and family drama it’s a little off-key.
Nick’s rating: ***
Genre: Drama.
Classification: M.
Director(s): Josh Margolin.
Release date: 5th Sep 2024.
Running time: 98 mins.
Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.