Mission Impossible wishes it were Thelma—an absolute joy ride from beginning to end with a phenomenally compelling performance from June Squibb. I always have a soft spot for films that highlight the demographic of our grandparents, yet I haven’t seen anything like Thelma yet, and what a perfect time for the film as we also get A Man on the Inside this year. Who says you can’t go on adventures when you get older?
Understandably, not everyone is fortunate enough to age without a myriad of health problems. It was a heartache I watched linger with all four of my grandparents, but a film like Thelma highlights something many of us can still find comfort in—how deeply our grandparents loved us, whether they’re still with us or if they’ve passed. That’s what this movie is all about at the end of the day, as a grandmother refuses to accept that she was conned solely because she loves her grandkid enough to do everything for him. There’s much to appreciate as we dive into what’s essentially a mission impossible for two people with a scooter and determination at the helm, and director Josh Margolin ensures that the film is as hilarious as it is deeply heartfelt.
The titular character isn’t to be toyed with, even when she allows herself beats to be vulnerable and acknowledges her age. At the same time, she isn’t concerned with her wellbeing as she’s more curious about life still and aware enough to be as careful as she can be. She frequently spends time with her grandson, who shows her Mission Impossible films, and she promises to wear her monitor solely for his mental health (a continuous nod in the movie that makes my heart happy and allows the unbreakable bond to stand out beautifully).
More than anything, because the film takes things to relatively extreme matters, it allows the levity to feel as real as the threats do. Perhaps if this weren’t categorized as a comedy, then I’d be deeply concerned at every point, yet because it is, even when Thelma takes a bad fall, the guarantee of her survival makes the film gloriously comforting.
In truth, it’s fascinating and yet still so heartbreaking to talk about our grandparents. On the one hand, I believe we’re all aware to understand that there’s immense privledge in aging, and because they’ve lived a long, full life, it makes the end a little less painful. On the other hand, to love someone means that no matter how old they are, the grief will still puncture and wound. So, because of this idea that’s constantly in the back of my mind while watching movies like this, it’s satisfying to know that Thelma is not only a story about survival, but it’s a brilliant account of determination. It’s an examination of how far love can take someone.
It shows viewers that sometimes, all we have is our word and the will to ensure that we get what’s rightfully ours. There’s an innocence in the film, perhaps coupled with the awareness in the screenplay that even as there’s humor, hijinks, and the stark reminder of how cruel our world can be, Thelma’s desire to continue fighting for herself and her grandson is an unstoppable, nuanced force.
There’s also just something deeply wholesome about how the film explores friends reconnecting, children and parents finding an understanding, and how it also allows a boy to continually vocalize how much he cares for his grandmother’s safety. Fred Hechinger does such an honest job of delivering what we all wish we could say sometimes—the opportunity to plainly voice how much we’ll miss a loved one when they’re gone and to hear them say that they believe in us through everything. It makes the film an unmistakable joyous winner, packed with something for every kind of film viewer.
Thelma is now streaming on Hulu.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Magnolia Pictures