June Squibb (right) and Richard Roundtree appear in a scene from “Thelma.”

“Thelma” is the most unlikely action film of the summer.

A delightful film full of surprises from writer/director Josh Margolin is the perfect showcase for 94-year-old actress June Squibbs, making her perhaps the most unlikely action star in recent memory.

Squibbs – who has mostly been seen in some memorable supporting roles, including the Oscar nominated performance in “Nebraska” – gets to carry the load this time and pulls it off with ease. She plays the title character, a woman who is scammed out of $10,000 by a con artist posing as her grandson.

When her family and the police don’t help Thelma to her satisfaction, she sets out to find the scammers and retrieve her money – going on an unlikely journey on a motor scooter across the city with her longtime friend and recent widow Ben (Richard Roundtree in his final role. He passed away in October 2023).

Squibb has always managed to be a top-notch scene stealer, so its no surprise that she is more than capable of carrying a film as the star. Margolin’s script does a good job of putting Thelma in some unlikely situations, but not so much that it forces the audience to really suspend disbelief too much. 

The confrontations are believable and any “stunts” are well within the range of Squibbs and her character.

As a director Margolin has a nice eye for these moments – creating some clever visuals that playfully poke fun at the whole premise.

The script has a nice balance of laughs and poignancy as Thelma and Ben reflect on being on the back end of their lives – with many of their loved ones already gone. These moments have extra meaning with Roundtree, almost serving as a wonderful tribute to his life and career.

The film also features some supporting work from the likes of Parker Posey and Malcolm McDowell that vary on the degree of effectiveness (Posey’s overprotective daughter wears a little thin, while McDowell’s presence is fun in what is essentially a glorified cameo).

But in the end, “Thelma” all hinges on Squibbs’ shoulders. She carries the weight of the film quite well – delivering one of 2024’s most pleasant surprises – a film that was a modest success at the box office that will hopefully find a larger audience on streaming services.

Starring: June Squibb, Fred Hechinger

Directed by: Josh Margolin

Rating: PG-13 for strong language

Playing at: Available for streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and other video on demand services

Grade: B