Arnold
CibbuanoThunderpants
October 11th 2006 06:11
Thunderpants (2002)
Lately it seems that 'kids' movies have really increased in quality (EG. 'Harry Potter', PIXAR's various releases, etc, etc.), even to such an extent that they're watchable by people over the age of 12 (Shock! Horror!) Yes, that's right - Disney live-action films can just fuck off. 'Thunderpants' is a brilliantly crude yet heart-warming British film seemingly aimed at the kiddos that I (significantly older than your average ‘kiddo’) found extremely enjoyable.
Patrick Smash is a child with a problem; he, quote, "Cannot control his arse". This leads to all manner of social ostracizations, until he eventually turns to his only friend - 'genius' Alan A. Allen (another misfit child, played by Rupert Grint) to help him solve his problems so he can fulfil his dream and become an astronaut. This leads to the creation of 'thunderpants'.
The story veers in all manner of exciting and unexpected directions from here, employing a winning mixture of fantasy, child-pleasing gross-out gags and feel-good adventure, along with some colourful characters and an inventive story. It's every bit as unsuitably bizarre, macabre and grotesque as Roald Dahl's best, and also features some surprising and hilarious homages to 'Ghostbusters' and '2001', amongst other things.
The cast is filled out by various familiar faces... Ned Beatty and Paul Giamatti representing the Americans, and Stephen Fry and Simon Callow going in to bat for the Brits. Newcomer Bruce Cook is refreshingly docile and pudgy as the hapless protagonist, whilst Rupert Grint is unfortunately barely understandable with his horribly put-on lisping and pretty much gives an extremely annoying performance throughout.
The various effects are great, hell - almost everything about the film is great. Hugely entertaining and childishly indulgent, what more could I have wanted? (Answer: Not much more at all!)
HIGHLIGHTS: Hilarious dialogue. The DVD also contains a pretty good slog of deleted scenes - including a disturbingly inappropriate gas chamber scene that amused me greatly.
I'm not sure if this is a highlight, but everything in the film is green for some reason...
TRIVIA: 'Thunderpants' is almost a Harry Potter spinoff, featuring Rupert Grint (Ron) and Joshua Herdman (Goyle) both play key roles, and Leslie Phillips (the voice of the Sorting Hat) also turns up as a Judge.
Keira Knightley briefly cameos as a nerdy music student.
This doesn't really qualify as trivia because I can't prove it, but I swear Robert De Niro has a cameo as a frenchman in one scene - yes I'm obsessed with De Niro!
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Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
Anything other than the stench of the crapness that is Harry Potter rules. 1900 rules more than Harry Potter, and you know how much I LOVED that!
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
I think it's too late to save you Keira.
Comment by Keira
Keira's Blog
I did actually sit through the movies, the three or whatever that are out, and I hated them. i hated the whole storyline. It bored me. People are all like read the books they are better, but I hate the whole concept of the thing and the whole little boy going to school learning wizardry with fun and frivolity along the way and has to defeat some crazy magician who wants him dead but is also dead or somewhere else or wherever the hell that guy is.
Bleh. Talking about Harry Potter makes me feel dirty. I'm going to stop now.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
but then there's three more films still.
oh noes!
when will it end!