(Photo: Universal
Pictures)

Everyone
loves a good action movie, right? Well, I can’t speak for everyone,
but I sure do enjoy a good action movie, and I know a lot of other
people do. There’s something about seeing these heroes do some
crazy stuff in action sequences that keep the adrenaline up that is
just infectious. I’ve loved them since I was 5, I still love them
in my early-20s, and I know I will love them when I reach the age
of “fossil” (that’s how I’ll like to be called when I’m old at
least).

However, a
common complaint from many viewers, both fans and non-fans of the
genre alike, is that so many action movies can feel the same
nowadays. It is a complaint I can see as valid when I go to an
action movie that feels like it was made by a paint-by-numbers
guide for action movies. Sentiments like that is the reason why Josh Margolin’s Thelma stands out as an
exceptional achievement.

Thelma is about a 93-year-old grandmother (played by the
iconic June Squibb) getting scammed into sending
$10,000 after thinking her grandson got in an accident. Once she
realizes her money went to a wrong cause, she takes matters into
her own hands by “borrowing” a scooter from her friend (played by
the late, great Richard Roundtree) and setting off
to take back what was rightfully hers, in the only way a grandma
could.

If that
sounds like a silly premise, you’re not wrong! The movie absolutely
lives in the realm of action-comedy as it highly dramatizes some
situations that wouldn’t seem like action sequences due to the
elderly nature of the main cast members. But as we like to say here
at Young Hollywood, “It’s not about age, it’s about attitude!” and
Thelma has a no-BS attitude from minute one. Though she is 93 and
not able to do the types of things her grandson can physically, she
always keeps her head held high as she persists through her
obstacles — both from circumstance and age. It’s almost surprising
watching this movie as you start to feel some legit excitement as
Thelma maneuvers herself to the end goal. Frankly, that is nothing
short of inspirational, and that alone makes Thelma such a
worthwhile watch.

But wait,
there’s more! This movie also has such a massive heart as it
discusses the topic of age in more ways than one. When the movie
starts, Thelma has been living by herself for roughly a year and
has made the effort to keep pushing through, even though she often
misses her husband. On the flipside, Richard Roundtree’s character
has been living in an elderly home for a couple years and has no
shame in the fact that he is in the position of needing dedicated
help/services most of the time. These conflicting viewpoints often
come into play as they try to find a means to cope with their own
mortality in the midst of a very stressful situation. Balancing
these scenes with the action should have been an impossible
mission, but Margolin chose to accept that with grace as he blends
the various tones and themes of this movie into such a beautiful
story.

This past
weekend, I attended a screening of Thelma that featured a
Q&A (moderated by the amazing Scott Mantz)
with Josh Margolin, alongside producers Zoë Worth and Chris Kaye, where I had the opportunity to
tell them that I loved the film and how much it made me think of my
own grandmothers. Their responses to me directly and during the
Q&A were all so genuine and so loving that it made my heart
grow three sizes too large. By the time I made it back to my car, I
couldn’t help but keep smiling.

Actually,
that is the best way to sum up Thelma: a movie that keeps
you smiling for hours after you see it. So, if any of you have been
waiting for June Squibb to take a run at Tom
Cruise’s action hero title in a fun and heartfelt
action-comedy, then you better grab your scooters and rush your way
over to your nearest theater to go see Thelma! If for no
other reason than to show that those scammers are no match for June
Squibb (not that we ever thought the scammers had a chance)!