In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde wrote, “The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young.”

This paradox of aging, when the body grows frail but the spirit remains vibrant, serves as a perfect backdrop for Thelma, the latest film from director Josh Margolin. Thelma (June Squibb), the titular 93-year-old heroine, might dismiss much of Dorian Gray’s superficial obsession with youth while wholeheartedly embracing Wilde’s sentiment. The film offers a fresh take on the action-comedy genre, challenging the notion that life inevitably deteriorates with age, and instead celebrates the vitality and resilience that come with experience.

Inspired by Tom Cruise’s antics in Mission: Impossible, the story follows Thelma, a widowed grandmother who becomes the victim of a phone scam that swindles her out of $10,000. While similarly wronged retirees in David Ayer’s The Beekeeper relied on Jason Statham’s brawn to dismantle phone-scam cartels, Thelma, living in a world where no such altruistic vigilantes exist, must depend on her wits and unyielding spirit to seek justice, or perhaps retribution.

Faced with the harrowing possibility of being moved into a retirement home by her overprotective children, Thelma enlists the help of her old friend Ben (played by Richard Roundtree, who sadly died shortly after filming). Together, with Ben’s cherry-red scooter, the only fitting stand-in for a superspy sports car, the pair embark on a clandestine quest to reclaim Thelma’s money. This journey is both heartwarming and hilarious, showcasing Thelma’s unwavering determination and resourcefulness.

A prominent motif throughout the film is the stifling effect of overprotectiveness on personal growth and independence. Thelma is coddled and treated like an invalid by her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger), who, despite being 24 years old, is similarly helicoptered by his neurotic parents. They micromanage Danny’s life, assisting him with such trivial tasks as renewing his driver’s license and patronizingly insisting he wears their Apple Watch when going out for a walk, all out of an excessive concern for his safety. This dynamic creates a cycle of dependency that hampers the development of autonomy in both generations.

Margolin adeptly uses these relationships to explore how overprotection can be as crippling as neglect. The film suggests that true love involves allowing loved ones to face challenges and grow from them. Thelma’s determination to reclaim her stolen money without relying on her family’s help is a testament to her resilience and desire to maintain her independence. Though it has its share of pacing flaws, the film triumphs in subtly communicating these ideas through the actions of its characters rather than through banal monologues.

In one standout scene, upon realizing her family is tracking her movements via her Instagram account, Thelma, channeling her inner Cruise, throws her heart tracker bracelet over a fence to throw them off her scent. She then jets off with Ben on his scooter. The film isn’t cheesy enough to cue the Mission Impossible music, but that distinctive theme immediately echoes in your head.

Squibb brings an infectious energy to the role that belies her 94 years. Her portrayal deftly balances comedy with the earnest grit of a woman who refuses to be underestimated or written off. In another early scene, having decided that she would pursue her scammers, she starts calling old friends in search of a partner, only to find most of them have either died or moved to Canada. Impervious to disheartenment, she instead expresses confusion as to which fate is worse.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Thelma poignantly captures the delicate balancing act that adult children face when caring for an aging parent. Audiences may believe Thelma’s independence should be preserved because they know how essential it is to her sense of self while being acutely aware that any fallout from that independence will inevitably land squarely on a caretaker’s shoulders. But, when caretakers begin stepping in by doing things for a parent or grandparent and begin cautioning them against taking on too much, they end up stripping away the very things that keep an older person sharp and vital.

In many ways, Thelma is a throwback to a bygone era of filmmaking, a feel-good comedy that wraps up neatly in just 90 minutes. Devoid of CGI action scenes, gratuitous nudity, or politics, it’s a reflection on the complicated, often contradictory nature of caring for those we love. It’s about finding the courage to let go, the resilience to keep going, and the grace to accept that sometimes the best way to show love is by letting someone take the risks they need to feel alive.

Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) is a film critic for the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a computer engineer in Toronto pursuing his MBA.