Summary
Tom Cruise approved the use ofMission: Impossiblefootage inThelma, with director Josh Margolin explaining how he received permission.Thelmastars94-year-old June Squibb in her first-ever leading role. The93-year-old character, Thelma Post, seeks revenge and becomes an unlikely action heroafter being scammed out of $10,000. Margolin based the character and the story on his own 104-year-old grandmother while having the film explore issues that older adults face in a meaningful and entertaining fashion.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, Margolin was asked aboutthe action-comedy’s references to theMission: Impossiblefranchise via clips and images from the filmsand of Cruise, and whether Margolin needed to receive permission from the star himself. Margolin explains the process behind including these references and how it impactedThelma’s production. Read his explanation below:
It came during production. We shot two versions of those scenes, one with Tom on [TVs and newspapers] and then one with like a replaceable green box. It was surprisingly smooth. Nicky Weinstock, who’s a producer on the movie, was at the same agency as him and has some pals in common there. We ended up sending the scene in the script to give him a little context and then a clip of the table read. We got his signoff and then we went to Paramount, which I suspect made things a lot easier there.
The Tom Cruise & Mission Impossible References Are Only A Small Part Of What Makes Thelma Great
Witha 99% critical score and 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes,Thelmaproves that it has more to offer than its Cruise andMission Impossiblereferences.Squibb’s hilarious performance inThelmais enough to make the film a stellar comedy. Margolin shared withTHRthat Squibb was the only actor he ever wanted for the role, emphasizing that she reminded him of his grandmother who inspired the story, and that Squibb had the perfect dramatic and humorous range needed for the role.
Squibb also currently voices Nostalgia inInside Out 2,meaning she has two movies in theaters.
In addition to Squibb’s standout performance,Thelmahas been well-received for how it handles issues that older adults face. The action-comedy genre enablesThelmato explore these issues through clever humor that doesn’t talk down to its characters or to viewers. It confronts difficult topics, including mortality, without oversimplifying and without becoming overly bleak, an approach Margolin is able to master by drawing on his real-life experiences with his grandmother.
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The Cruise andMission: Impossiblereferencesaren’t the main reasonThelmahas a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, but as one of the most recognizable action stars from one of the most well-known action franchises, they serve a purpose as Thelma becomes an action hero in her own story. Margolin revealed thatSquibb did as much as she could and more than what was expected of her when it came to Thelma’s stunts, including doing all the scooter driving herself, yet another reason to seeThelmawhile it plays in theaters and when it becomes available to stream.
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.
