By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.75
Director: Brian Dannelly
Starring: Allison Janney | Chris Colfer | Christina Hendricks | Dermot Mulroney | Polly Bergen | Sarah Hyland
Country: united_states
Year: 2013
Running time: 90
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1791614/
Bruce says: “The biggest problem with STRUCK BY LIGHTNING is the protagonist. He is not very likable. In the opening frames we learn that Carson Phillips (Chris Colfer of GLEE fame) is the lightning victim. Carson is also the victim of divorce. His alcoholic mother Sheryl (Allison Janney) and absentee father (Dermot Mulroney) have provided little nurture for their misfit child who dreams of becoming editor of The New Yorker while his peers worry about prom themes and football scores. Sheryl openly observes, ‘Never have a child to save a marriage.’ No wonder this kid isn’t normal.
“Carson is ruthless; he will stop at nothing to position himself for fulfilling his destiny. He is editor of the Clover High School newspaper which no one reads. Worried that newspaper editing is not enough to gain entry into a college like Northwestern that would be appropriate background for a New Yorker editor, he decides to start a literary magazine. The guidance counselor is clueless. She has never heard of Northwestern and pushes Clover Community College because she earns merchandise points for each student she recruits. To achieve his end, Carson chooses blackmail as the means to get other students to write for his magazine. Some of his blackmailing scenarios are very funny.
“Somehow STRUCK BY LIGHTNING seems like recycled material. Brian Dannelly, whose previous effort was SAVED!, has not sustained the freshness he achieved in that film. Chris Colfer wrote the screenplay. He could have benefited from some collaboration. He has created a protagonist that is mean-spirited but not much fun. Colfer also is not the right actor to carry off the role. Being totally unlikeable – take Reese Witherspoon in ELECTION for example – can be entertaining; Colfer is not up to the task. 2.5 cats
“(STRUCK BY LIGHTNING screened at the 2012 Provincetown International Film Festival.)”
Julie says: “I liked this movie. Nothing stupendous but it was entertaining.
“Allison Janney as the mother really stood out in the film ….hilarious at times, ‘wrap it all up’ was my favorite line of hers (it was her build up and delivery). Great acting and played the very touching/sad moments well (and there were many more sad than funny moments for her). Dermot was perfect as the absentee father.
“The high school characters including the counselor were well cast. I think I went to high school with most of those people ….but then again we probably all did (or most of us) so nothing earth shattering there. I love that the counselor goes on about juicing and then has a coke in her juice cup and is eating a burger and fries or some such! Rebel Wilson as the lead’s best friend Malerie Baggs was rather entertaining – I had never heard of her before- as I have still not seen Bridesmaid’s! Who knew this girl… I mean woman has done so much!
“Also, I played back some of the movie again to see this or that and noticed something funny that a one time watch would never reveal and that is that during the flashback to grade school there’s a tiny girl with a blonde pony tail and glasses that they flash to several times – The young Malerie Baggs! I thought that was a very amusing touch.
“I also loved the transfer student bit – there’s a part at the end / alternate or deleted scene that is good with him speaking perfect Spanish although those last lines could have been written a little better….
“I think the fact I have never seen ‘Glee’ must have helped me be more objective ??????? okay I have no idea whether Bruce has seen ‘Glee’ maybe not. I was impressed that the lead wrote the screenplay. Yes it needed some work but it had plenty of good moments both sad and funny … It needed more development and yes the plot was weak …. but is there really ever a plot to this type of movie ? It is what it is … a trip down memory lane for some of us in various shapes and forms….with a somewhat mean spirited protagonist… In the end my rating is only .45 points more than Bruce’s though! 2.95 cats”