Thunder Force: A Superhero Comedy That Falls Short of Its Potential
Superhero films are one of the most popular genres in Hollywood today, with countless adaptations of comic books, graphic novels, and original stories hitting the big screen every year. But what if superheroes were not born with their powers, but had to acquire them through scientific experiments? And what if those experiments were performed by two ordinary women who used to be best friends in high school? That is the premise of Thunder Force, a 2021 superhero comedy film written and directed by Ben Falcone, and starring his wife Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as two unlikely crime-fighting partners.
Thunder Force is the fifth collaboration between McCarthy and Falcone, who have previously worked together on films such as Tammy (2014), The Boss (2016), Life of the Party (2018), and Superintelligence (2020). The film also features a star-studded cast of supporting actors, such as Jason Bateman as a half-man half-crab villain, Bobby Cannavale as a corrupt politician with superpowers, Pom Klementieff as a psychopathic laser-shooter, Melissa Leo as a former CIA agent turned mentor, Taylor Mosby as Spencer's genius daughter, and many more.
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The film was released by Netflix on April 9th 2021 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Some praised the chemistry between McCarthy and Spencer as well as some of the action scenes but others criticized the script for being unoriginal predictable boring clichéd inconsistent full of plot holes vulgar unfunny tone-deaf etc.
The Plot of Thunder Force
The plot of Thunder Force is set in a world where cosmic rays have given superpowers to sociopaths who became supervillains known as Miscreants. Emily Stanton (Spencer) is a brilliant scientist who has dedicated her life to finding a way to give superpowers to normal people after her parents were killed by a Miscreant when she was young. Lydia Berman (McCarthy) is her childhood best friend who has become a reckless forklift driver who has drifted apart from Emily over the years. The two reunite when Lydia tries to convince Emily to attend their high school reunion, but accidentally injects herself with a super-strength serum that Emily has been developing. Emily decides to train Lydia to become a superhero, while also giving herself the power of invisibility. Together, they form the Thunder Force, a team of superheroes who aim to stop the Miscreants from taking over the city of Chicago.
Their main target is William "The King" Stevens (Cannavale), a mayoral candidate who secretly has superpowers and is allied with the Miscreants. He plans to use his influence and his army of villains to eliminate his political rivals and take control of the city. Along the way, Lydia develops a romantic interest in Jerry (Bateman), a Miscreant who has crab claws for arms, while Emily tries to reconnect with her daughter Tracy (Mosby), who also has a passion for science and wants to join the Thunder Force.
The film follows the adventures and misadventures of Lydia and Emily as they learn to use their powers, fight crime, and deal with their personal issues. The film also features several references and homages to other superhero films, such as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, X-Men, and The Avengers.
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The Strengths of Thunder Force
The Chemistry Between McCarthy and Spencer
One of the main strengths of Thunder Force is the chemistry between McCarthy and Spencer, who have been friends in real life for over 20 years. The two actresses have a natural rapport and a great sense of humor that make their scenes together enjoyable and entertaining. They play off each other's personalities and quirks, creating a believable and relatable friendship that is at the heart of the film. McCarthy brings her trademark energy and physical comedy to the role of Lydia, while Spencer balances her out with her calm and composed demeanor as Emily. The two also have some emotional moments that show their bond and their growth as characters.
The Supporting Cast
Another strength of Thunder Force is the supporting cast, who add some flavor and variety to the film. Jason Bateman steals every scene he is in as Jerry, the crab-armed Miscreant who falls in love with Lydia. He delivers his lines with a deadpan expression and a sarcastic tone that make him hilarious and charming. Bobby Cannavale plays the villainous King with a hammy and over-the-top performance that suits the comic tone of the film. Pom Klementieff is menacing and funny as Laser, the King's right-hand woman who can shoot lasers from her eyes. Melissa Leo is badass and authoritative as Allie, Emily's former CIA boss who helps train the Thunder Force. Taylor Mosby is smart and sweet as Tracy, Emily's daughter who idolizes her mother and wants to be a superhero too.
The Action Scenes
The third strength of Thunder Force is the action scenes, which showcase the superpowers of the protagonists and the villains in a fun and creative way. The film features several sequences where Lydia and Emily use their strength and invisibility to fight against the Miscreants, such as a bank robbery, a bus hijacking, a car chase, and a final showdown. The film also includes some scenes where Tracy uses her own invention, a taser gun that can temporarily give anyone superpowers, to join the action. The action scenes are well-choreographed, well-shot, and well-edited, with some impressive visual effects and stunts. They also have some comedic moments that lighten up the mood and make them more enjoyable. The Weaknesses of Thunder Force
The Script
One of the main weaknesses of Thunder Force is the script, which fails to deliver a coherent and original story. The film suffers from many clichés, plot holes, and inconsistencies that make it hard to follow and enjoy. For example, the film never explains how the cosmic rays only affected sociopaths, how Emily and Lydia became friends in high school, how Jerry got his crab claws, how the King got his powers, how Tracy invented her taser gun, and many more. The film also lacks a clear theme or message, as it tries to tackle topics such as friendship, family, feminism, politics, and justice, without going into depth or making a point. The film also recycles many tropes and ideas from other superhero films, without adding anything new or original.
The Comedy
Another weakness of Thunder Force is the comedy, which relies too much on cheap jokes, slapstick, and vulgarity, without being clever or witty. The film often resorts to lowbrow humor that involves bodily functions, sexual innuendos, profanity, violence, and stereotypes, without being funny or relevant. For example, the film features scenes where Lydia throws a raw chicken at a villain, where Jerry and Lydia have a romantic dinner with raw seafood, where Lydia dances awkwardly at a club, where Emily vomits on a car window, and many more. The film also wastes the potential of some of the comedic actors, such as Bateman and Cannavale, by giving them poorly written lines and characters. The film also fails to balance the comedy with the drama, as it often switches from serious to silly moments without a smooth transition or a proper tone.
The Tone
The third weakness of Thunder Force is the tone, which struggles to balance between being a parody and a homage of superhero films. The film seems to be unsure of what it wants to be: a spoof that mocks the genre conventions and clichés, or a tribute that celebrates the genre tropes and references. The film tries to do both, but ends up doing neither well. The film does not have enough satire or irony to be a parody, nor enough respect or admiration to be a homage. The film also does not have enough originality or creativity to be its own thing. The film ends up being a bland and boring mix of elements that have been done better by other films.
The Reception of Thunder Force
The reception of Thunder Force was mixed from both critics and audiences alike. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics who criticized its script comedy tone plot characters etc. The film holds a 20% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 165 reviews with an average rating of 4/10. The website's critics consensus reads "It's got a few chuckles but Thunder Force is largely a superhero comedy that's neither exciting nor funny -- and an egregious waste of two talented stars." On Metacritic the film has a score of 34 out of 100 based on 32 critics indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".
The audience response was slightly more positive but still lukewarm. The film received an average rating of 5.4/10 on IMDb based on over 40 000 user ratings. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an audience score of 25% based on over 2500 user ratings with an average rating of 2.5/5. On Metacritic the film has a user score of 4.8 out of 10 based on over 100 user ratings. Many viewers expressed their disappointment and frustration with the film especially considering the talent involved.
The box office performance of Thunder Force was not reported as it was released by Netflix which does not disclose its viewership numbers. However Netflix claimed that the film was watched by 52 million households in its first four weeks making it one of the most popular films on the streaming service in 2021. The film was also nominated for four Razzie Awards including Worst Picture Worst Actress for McCarthy Worst Supporting Actress for Spencer and Worst Screenplay for Falcone. The Razzie Awards are awards that honor the worst films of the year.
The Future of Thunder Force
The future of Thunder Force is uncertain as there has been no official announcement or confirmation about a sequel or a spin-off to the film. However there are some hints and possibilities that suggest that the film might continue in some form or another. For example the film ends with a cliffhanger that reveals that Lydia's ex-boyfriend Kenny (played by Falcone) has become a Miscreant with electric powers who plans to take revenge on her. This could set up a potential sequel where Lydia and Emily have to face him and his allies. The film also introduces some characters that could have their own spin-offs, such as Tracy, who has her own superpower device, and Jerry, who has a unique backstory and personality. The film also leaves some questions unanswered, such as the origin of the cosmic rays, the fate of the other Miscreants, and the future of the Thunder Force. However, the chances of a sequel or a spin-off are also low, considering the negative reception and the low demand for the film. The film did not generate much buzz or excitement among the fans or the critics, and did not create a loyal or passionate fanbase. The film also did not receive much support or promotion from Netflix, which has a large catalog of original films and shows that compete for attention and viewership. The film also did not win any awards or accolades that could boost its popularity or reputation. Therefore, it is unlikely that Netflix would invest more money or resources into making a follow-up to the film. Conclusion
Thunder Force is a superhero comedy film that tries to be a fun and funny parody of the genre, but ends up being a disappointing and forgettable mess. The film wastes the talent and potential of its cast and crew, especially McCarthy and Spencer, who deserve better material and roles. The film suffers from a weak script, poor comedy, and an inconsistent tone, that make it hard to enjoy or recommend. The film does have some strengths, such as the chemistry between the leads, the supporting cast, and the action scenes, but they are not enough to save it from its flaws. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, and did not perform well at the box office or the awards season. The film might have a sequel or a spin-off in the future, but it is not very likely or necessary.
Thunder Force is a film that could have been a lot better if it had a stronger script, better comedy, and a clearer tone. It could have been a hilarious and clever spoof of superhero films, or a heartfelt and inspiring tribute to them. Instead, it is a mediocre and bland film that does not live up to its potential or its premise.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Thunder Force:
What is Thunder Force?
Thunder Force is a 2021 superhero comedy film written and directed by Ben Falcone, and starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer as two women who gain superpowers and fight crime.
Where can I watch Thunder Force?
Thunder Force is available to watch on Netflix, which released the film on April 9th 2021.
Is Thunder Force based on a comic book?
No, Thunder Force is not based on a comic book or any other source material. It is an original story created by Ben Falcone.
Who are the villains in Thunder Force?
The villains in Thunder Force are people who have superpowers due to cosmic rays and are called Miscreants. The main villain is William "The King" Stevens (Bobby Cannavale), a mayoral candidate who has superpowers and is allied with other Miscreants.
Will there be a Thunder Force 2?
There has been no official announcement or confirmation about a sequel to Thunder Force. However, the film ends with a cliffhanger that suggests that there might be a sequel in the future.
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