Summary
The new 2024 movieThelmahas gotten a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. Starring nonagenarian actress June Squibb in the titular role,Thelmais an action-comedy about an older woman who gets tricked by a phone scammer who masquerades as her grandson, and takes matters into her own hands to right these wrongs.Thelmais directed by Josh Margolin and features a leading cast including Squibb, Fred Hechinger, Richard Roundtree, Parker Posey, Clark Gregg, and Hilda Boulware.
Now,theRotten Tomatoesscore forThelmahas been revealed. At the time of writing,Thelmaholds a 99% on Rotten Tomatoeswith 68 reviews. This score is subject to change, as the film is releasing on June 21. As such,Thelmaalso does not yet have an audience score.
Why Are Thelma’s Reviews So Good?
Squibb Carries The Movie At Age 94
Not only is Squibb still acting, but she is doing so in a raucous, action role that celebrates her age while still giving her a genre film acting role.
Thecritics who loveThelmaare raving about the film’s ability to creategenuine comedic moments without exploiting its elderly protagonist. In this vein,San Francisco Chronicle’sCarla Meyer wrote that the film “always emphasizes seniors' capabilities, not their limits” when creating both its action and comedy sequences.Mashable’s Kristy Puchko admitted that the film had “some cheeky action tropes” but was still a “real thrill.“Slant Magazinepraised the film for its brilliant “balance of comedy and existential drama.”
Another oft-praised element of the film was the leading performance fromSquibb. Even beforeThelma,Squibb has been belovedfor a while now, previously contributing her talents to the also elderly role of Kate Grant in Alexander Payne’sNebraska.The actor is 94 years old, an age at which many have retired from acting. Not only is Squibb still acting, but she is doing so in a raucous, action role that celebrates her age while still giving her a genre film acting role. Combined withThelma’s strong scripting, it is this element that helps to give the film charm.
Thelmais an independent film from a first-time director, making it unlikely to gain significant traction at the box office, especially when competing with blockbusters such asBad Boys: Ride or Dieand thewell-likedInside Out 2.Thelma, however, can boast a record that very few of its competitors can in getting a near-perfect 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. A couple of smaller films in 2024 have gotten that perfect 100%, includingNowhere SpecialandLaRoy, Texas. With a beloved actress like Squibb at the fore, however,Thelmahas both the critical praise and name recognition going for it.
Thelma
Cast
Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. Thelma Post finds herself duped out of money and more when a scam caller pretends to be her grandson. Unwilling to sit back and let herself be a victim, she sets off into the city to find the perpetrator and take back what is hers.
