DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the film 'Thelma,' an action comedy about an elderly woman who gets scammed out of her money. NPR film critic Bob Mondello and Philadelphia Inquirer arts and entertainment editor Bhattri D. Chaudhary join host Ayesha Harris to praise the movie, particularly the performances of June Squibb as the spirited Thelma and the late Richard Roundtree as her friend who helps her track down the scammer.
The guests highlight how the film handles themes of aging and mortality with sensitivity, while also being a delightfully fun and heartwarming adventure. They appreciate seeing an elderly actor like Squibb, in her 90s, as an action star and the clever use of hearing aids and other technology typically associated with aging as creative tools.
In the 'What's Making Us Happy' segment, Chaudhary recommends the Netflix series 'Jamtara' about phishing scams, Mondello talks about enjoying the simple pleasure of corn on the cob and the film 'Ghostlight,' and Harris discusses an article analyzing the influence of early '80s funk on the song of the summer contender 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The film Thelma is a delightful and heartwarming action comedy featuring a standout lead performance by June Squibb as a feisty elderly woman seeking revenge on a scammer.
- The movie handles themes of aging and mortality with sensitivity while still being tremendously entertaining.
- Thelma celebrates the idea of elderly people as action heroes and cleverly uses things like hearing aids as gadgets.
- The guests praise the film for avoiding condescension towards its older characters and allowing them to be the source of humor.
- In addition to reviewing Thelma, the hosts share their current pop culture recommendations spanning shows, films, articles, and music.
- The 'What's Making Us Happy' segment allows for discussions of lighter topics like the simple joy of corn on the cob.
- The episode provides an insightful celebration of a fun summer film while touching on deeper themes around aging.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And it wasn't doom and gloom. You know, the older people in the film are not the butt of jokes. In fact, the other ones cracking them, they're the ones having fun.“ by Bhattri D. Chaudhary
- “And I just finished watching it again, one of the things about it very early on, she is watching a Tom Cruise movie called Mission Impossible.“ by Bob Mondello
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Episode Information
Pop Culture Happy Hour
NPR
6/21/24
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