At the age of 92, character actor June Squibb has finally landed the star vehicle she’s been waiting for, playing a woman who falls prey to a mobile phone scam but refuses to admit defeat.

Thelma lives a largely independent life in the suburban Los Angeles home she shared with her husband, who died two years ago. In between watching TV shows and needlepointing cushion covers and the like, she’s only now learning how to navigate the internet, thanks to her 20-something grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger), who spends more time with his granny than your typical millennial might. 

Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in Josh Margolin’s film Thelma.

One day, Thelma’s phone rings. A voice – seemingly Danny’s but sounding desperate – tells her that he’s been involved in a car accident. Thelma is panicked. Then the phone rings again. This time, it’s a gruff-voiced lawyer who tells her that if she doesn’t come up with $10,000 in cash, right now, Danny will go to jail. 

Confused and concerned, Thelma rustles up the money from various hidey-holes around the house and mails it to a PO box somewhere across town.

When the penny drops, Thelma...