THUNDER PANTS
UK, 2002, 87 minutes, Colour.
Simon Callow, Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Paul Giamatti, Ned Beatty, Bruce Cook, Rupert Grint, Bronagh Gallagher, Victor Mc Guire, Adam Godley, Leslie Phillips, Robert Hardy.
Directed by Peter Howett.
Thunder Pants is an unlikely story for a children's film insofar as the quality of the central character, Patrick Smash (Bruce Cook), is that he has two stomachs and a prodigious ability to break wind. He is only ten years old. However, his friend at school, Alan A. Allen (Rupert Grint, from the Harry Potter films), is a genius at scientific inventions and builds underwear that give some kind of control for poor Patrick. Alan also builds a machine that will assist flight, based on the physiology of Patrick's stomachs. When the world's second-greatest tenor (played by Simon Callow) cannot reach a high note, Patrick is able to do so because of his flatulence. He goes on a world tour with the tenor. However, there is a vengeful tenor in the offing, Placido P. Placeedo, a nod, of course, in the direction of Placido Domingo. When the tenor is killed, Patrick is accused, tried in court but finishes up going to the United States where various officials, Ned Beatty and Paul Giamatti, are able to get him to work with a range of child geniuses who are inventing rockets at a space centre. Patrick becomes a hero and goes into space, the fulfilment of his ambitions.
The film has a strong supporting cast in guest roles including Simon Callow, Stephen Fry as a lawyer, Leslie Phillips as the judge, Robert Hardy as a director.
Director Pete Howett made a range of films including Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, the family film The Borrowers and the inventive Whatever Happened to Harold Smith.
1. An entertaining film? For young boys? For children, for adults?
2. The title, Patrick Smash's physiological phenomenon, Alan A. Allen and his inventions, underwear, and the invention for space travel?
3. The British settings, the Smash household, school, laboratories? The contrast with the world tour with the tenor? The American space station? Reality and fantasy? The musical score?
4. Patrick Smash as hero, his breaking wind - and the jokes for children, for adults? His friendship with Alan, Alan having no sense of smell, the underwear and its being a success? Patrick at home, his relationship with his parents? The medical discovery, his double stomachs? Alan inventing a further machine, the non-assisted flight competition? Patrick and his involvement, the machine, the competition, the comedy of the race, his winning? The disappearance of Alan?
5. Sir John Osgood, the world's second-greatest tenor, his pomposity? His dilemma, his wanting to hit the high note, the flatulence enabling the sound to emerge? His deal with Patrick, their tour? The audiences and their acclaim? Sir John Osgood's vanity? The rivalry of Placido P. Placeedo, competitiveness, vengefulness, exposing the truth? His death, the falling spotlight?
6. Patrick, going to court, the accusations, the lawyer, the judge - the realism and fantasy of the court case? Patrick being sent to the firing squad after his being found guilty?
7. The government officers, their contacts with Patrick, with Alan? Their getting him to America? The space dilemma, the stranded astronauts? Alan and the group of children, the prodigies, their laboratories, inventiveness? The new rocket, based again on Patrick? Patrick going into orbit, becoming an astronaut, the rescue mission and its success? Patrick as hero?
8. Patrick, his appearance, haircut, awkward manner, embarrassment? Children identifying with him and his discomfort, with his success, with achieving his ambitions?
9. The humorous tone of the film, the slapstick jokes, the verbal humour, the caricatures of the characters, Patrick's situations, Alan's seriousness and inventions, the style of the sets, the fantasy touch, the green colours, the atmosphere of a children's fantasy adventure?
