Thunderpants

Thunderpants
UK DVD cover
Directed by	Pete Hewitt
Produced by	Damian Jones Graham Broadbent
Written by	Pete Hewitt Phil Hughes
Starring	Bruce Cook Rupert Grint Simon Callow Adam Godley Stephen Fry Celia Imrie Paul Giamatti Ned Beatty
Music by	Rupert Gregson-Williams
Cinematography	Andy Collins
Editing by	Michael Parker
Studio	CP Medien AG Mission Pictures Pathé Pictures International
Distributed by	Pathé Distribution
Release date(s)	24 May, 2002
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom Germany
Language	English

Thunderpants is a 2002 family film about a boy whose incredible capacity for flatulence gets him a job as an astronaut. The film was directed by Pete Hewitt, whose previous work included Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991) and The Borrowers (1997). The script was written by Phil Hughes, based on a story by Peter Hewitt about a boy who dreams to be a spaceman but has a problem with flatulence.

Plot

Born with two stomachs, Patrick Smash (Bruce Cook) is uncontrollably and devastatingly flatulent. No more than thirty seconds after his birth, he first broke wind, horrifying his parents (Bronagh Gallagher and Victor McGuire) and doctor (Robert Hardy). As he grew up, his gassy emissions became so uncontrollable and destructive that his father had to flee their home, as he was often injured by the power of his son's powerful farts; a force so strong that it can blow people over and curtains open in one mere release. Patrick's unfortunate affliction left him to be a target for bullies. One incident at his school left him particularly humiliated.

An important visitor was addressing the school during assembly and Patrick fought to control his flatulence, but he could not. He passed gas loudly, polluting the hall and disgracing the school. However, while he is physically weak, Patrick finds strength in his disorder and eventually seeks revenge on the school bully Damon (Joshua Herdman) by passing gas in his face, leaving the bully scarred for life. Patrick's only friend is child prodigy Alan A. Allen (Rupert Grint), who has anosmia and therefore, a resilience to Patrick's condition. Alan and Patrick team up, using Alan's intelligence and Patrick's lifelong dream of being an astronaut, to make Thunderpants, reinforced short trousers strong enough to contain Patrick's emissions. Suddenly, Patrick learns that Alan went to America with the government to assist astronauts who are trapped in outer space, and Patrick finds that his condition may be of use to the spacemen in peril.

Cast

• Bruce Cook as Patrick Smash
• Rupert Grint as Alan A. Allen
• Simon Callow as Sir John Osgood
• Adam Godley as Placido P. Placeedo
• Stephen Fry as Sir Anthony Silk
• Celia Imrie as Miss Rapier
• Paul Giamatti as Johnson J. Johnson
• Ned Beatty as Gen. Ed Sheppard
• Bronagh Gallagher as Mrs. Smash
• Victor McGuire as Mr. Smash
• Anna Popplewell as Denise Smash
• Josh Herdman as Damon
• Leslie Phillips as Judge
• Robert Hardy as Doctor
• Devon Anderson as Dan
• Keira Knightley as Music School Student (uncredited in the cast list but appears in the "Special Thanks" list)

Reception

Critical reception

The film has received a rating of 60% at the film review website Rotten Tomatoes, based upon 5 reviews.

Empire magazine wrote in their review that Thunderpants is "a well-made, quirky oddity for adults, but a laugh riot for kids and Beano nostalgists...underneath all the expelled air it’s really just a simple tale of a boy finding his talent and making the most of it".

During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, Paul Giamatti referred to this film as one of the high points in his career.

Awards and nominations

Thunderpants was nominated for one award in 2002, in the Children's Section of the International Festival of Films for Children and Young People. The film was given the award at the ceremony.

External links

• Official website
• Thunderpants at the Internet Movie Database
• Thunderpants at AllRovi
• Thunderpants on Variety
• Thunderpants on BBC