Summary
Thelmais the perfect film to watch after the long-runningGrace and Frankie. With a 99% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, thecritically acclaimedThelmasees the 93-year-old titular character played by June Squibb taking matters into her own hands when she is scammed out of $10,000. With footage and clever references to Tom Cruise’sMission Impossiblefranchise,Thelmabecomes a hilarious and heartfelt action movie featuring an older adult as the hero.
BeforeThelma, the Netflix original seriesGrace and Frankietold its own story with older adult protagonists starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston.Grace and Frankieendedwith 94 episodes over the course of seven seasons and remains Netflix’s longest-running series to date. SinceGrace and Frankie’s final episodes were released in April 2022, the series has left behind a void of stories with positive older adult representation, a void that can now be partly filled byThelma.
June Squibb Shares Why She Needed To Play The Role Of Thelma
Thelma stars June Squibb & Fred Hechinger discuss the relationship between grandma and grandson, the real Thelma, and working with Richard Roundtree.
Thelma Is The Perfect Follow-Up To Netflix’s Grace & Frankie
They Explore Similar Issues Through Heartfelt Humor And Drama
Beyond featuring older adult protagonists,Thelmais the perfect follow-up toGrace and Frankiebecause both stories tackle real issues that older adults face, including aging and elder abuse, in a genuinely funny and dramatic fashion. The older adults in these stories have agency and are at the forefront of the narrative. They are complex characters who are more than comic relief, with humor that does not infantilize or demean them because of their age, and instead celebrates them while acknowledging the everyday challenges they face.
Climbing a flight of stairs or getting stuck on a toilet seat can become tense and gripping to watch in a way that these scenes would not be in a story primarily focused on younger characters. Younger individuals, especially within the protagonists' families, still play an important role, though, asThelmaandGrace and Frankieexplore the importance of relationships across the generations. There are powerful messages about balancing a healthy need for independence while also relying on loved ones for support, a balance that can be difficult to achieve as individuals age and family roles evolve.
Thelma & Grace & Frankie Prove Why We Need More Movies & Shows With Positive Older Adult Representation
They Can Have An Incredible Impact
Part of what makesThelmaandGrace and Frankieso unique and refreshing is that they feel like anomalies among modern films and television series. They are wonderful stories that highlight how liberating and exciting old age can be while also not shying away from the mundane, harsh, and tragic realities that accompany it. This is important for both older and younger generations to experience, as it can help them better understand themselves and their loved ones.
These kinds of stories need to be more common, so the issues being explored and the positive representation of older adults on screen receive more consistent and widespread exposure. Seeing older adults as nuanced people with agency instead of viewing them as stereotypes who are the butt of the joke is not only impactful in a narrative, but can change how people perceive and interact with older individuals in everyday life.ThelmaandGrace & Frankieprovide an excellent modelfor how humorous and thrilling stories about older adults can be told.
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.
