Cindy and I have a Saturday movie night, and it's my turn to pick about half the time. Most weeks I choose a Western or a war movie, and Cindy politely falls asleep by the second act. So a few weeks ago I tried something different, and for once, she stayed awake the whole way through.
The movie was Thelma. It's about a 93-year-old grandmother who gets tricked by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, and instead of sitting home feeling foolish, she sets off across Los Angeles on a borrowed mobility scooter to get her money back.
Well, folks, we laughed out loud, I got a little choked up, and afterward we had one of the best conversations we've had in a while. Here's why it makes a great pick for your next movie night.
What is the movie Thelma about?
Thelma is a 2024 action comedy starring June Squibb as Thelma Post, a spirited widow who loses $10,000 to a caller posing as her grandson. With help from an old friend, played by Richard Roundtree in one of his final roles, she goes after the scammers herself. According to the film's official site from Magnolia Pictures, writer and director Josh Margolin was inspired by his own grandmother.
It's rated PG-13, runs about an hour and a half, and has some mild language and a few gentle action scenes. Check the official site for where to rent or stream it, since that changes over time.
Why is Thelma a good movie for people over 60?
In plain words, three reasons. First, the older characters are the real heroes, not the folks sitting in the background handing out advice. Second, the humor is kind. It's funny without making fun of getting older. Third, it opens an easy, natural conversation about scams and about asking for help, without anyone feeling lectured.
Cindy's favorite part was how Thelma's family worried about her, and how Thelma kept insisting she could handle her own life. I won't spoil how that turns out.
What should we talk about after watching Thelma?
Here are the questions we asked, in plain words. "If that call came to one of us, how would we check it?" "If a scam had already happened, how would you want the family to respond?" And "Where's the line between staying independent and accepting help?"
That second question is the big one. People are much more likely to tell family about a scam when they expect help, not a lecture. Talk about it while everyone's relaxed and full of popcorn, not after something goes wrong.
Is chasing a scammer a good idea in real life?
No, and the movie knows it's a fantasy. In real life, please don't confront a scammer or try to track down your money yourself. It can be dangerous, and it rarely works. Instead, call your bank or payment company right away and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
The scam in the movie, a fake grandson in trouble, is very real, and today scammers can even copy a loved one's voice. Our guide on what to do when a family emergency call sounds exactly right is the perfect follow-up. And if the dialogue is hard to catch, turn on the captions first.
What we talked about after
When the credits rolled, Cindy turned to me and said, "If that ever happens to me, promise you won't make me feel stupid." I promised. Then I told her about the time I almost paid a fake parking meter QR code, and she laughed so hard she snorted. We agreed on a family rule right there on the couch: we always hang up and call back, and nobody gets scolded for asking.
Best movie night we've had all year, folks. Even Cindy said so.
Have you seen Thelma? Tell us in the comments what you thought, and suggest our next movie night pick.
