Thunderpants (2002)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C+     Extras: C     Film: C

 

 

After endless jokes and gross programs including excrement and all related subjects, along with the anti-social implications, if you can actually do a children’s comedy with sensitivity about a young man with a flatulence problem.  That is what is attempted in Pete Hewitt’s film Thunderpants.  A young man (Bruce Cook) has had this problem since he was a child.  In real life, this would have been a serious medical drama and the child could have died, but in this story, it is an “unfortunate” thing that is let go.  That is as disturbing as any dark side of Forest Gump, a film that has plenty.

 

He does befriend a little genius type with nasal troubles (Rupert Grint of Driving Lessons and the Harry Potter films) and though bullied, also finds himself finding new possibilities with his life.  Eventually, his curse turns out to be (as the title suggests) a source for space rockets!  Huh!?!  I only wonder how much worse this would have been if this were not a British production.  Simon Callow, Stephen Fry, Paul Giamatti and Ned Beatty also star, but cannot save the film from its odd premise.  The only possibility then is a cult hit and though not awful, far from a film that works.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is very clear and colorful, though detail can still be an issue.  That is the pleasant surprise of the disc and interesting, if commercial smooth work by Andy Collins.  The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is subtle and sounds like this was more like a simple stereo design, despite being a Dolby Digital theatrical release.  Extras include the original theatrical trailer, deleted scenes, feature length audio commentary, a “fart” thesaurus and Music Video by silly pop act allSTARS.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo