Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Edgy high school comedy from Glee star has some iffy stuff.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Struck by Lightning
What's the Story?
In the very first scene, audiences learn that Carson Phillips (Chris Colfer) has been STRUCK BY LIGHTNING and killed. The dead 17-year-old narrator proceeds to explain that he lived in the small town of Clover, Calif. (population: less than 10,000). In flashback, Carson is shown as the editor of the high school newspaper, with big dreams to attend Northwestern's journalism school, write for The New Yorker, and even win a Nobel Prize. When his inept guidance counselor (Angela Kinsey) suggests that he start a literary magazine to up his admissions chances, Carson and his only friend, Malerie (Rebel Wilson), start blackmailing a group of well-known students with scandalous secrets in order to staff their new venture. In the movie's main subplot, the pregnant local pharmacist (Christina Hendricks) discovers she's engaged to Carson's estranged father (Dermot Mulroney), who's still not technically divorced from Carson's alcoholic mom (Allison Janney).
Is It Any Good?
Colfer is clearly a talented young man; not only is he fabulous performer, but he's also a gifted writer with lots of stories to tell. He penned the children's book The Land of Stories, and also wrote the screenplay for Struck by Lightning (which he started when he was in high school and has since adapted into a book). Basically a misfit's revenge tale, this black comedy explores issues of identity and ambition that most teens will be able to relate to, even if the execution is at times formulaic and derivative of every other high school comedy on film.
What's original is that Colfer's Carson is genuinely uninterested in becoming one of the cool people; he just wants a one-way ticket to his dreams (college, independence, success). Carson's not even a very likable protagonist, but he's surrounded with entertaining supporting characters, like Wilson as his charming sidekick and Modern Family star Sarah Hyland as the popular cheerwitch. Of all the adult characters, the best is Carson's ailing grandma (Polly Bergen), who reminds him of the stories he told as a little kid about a boy who could fly.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Struck by Lightning features a posthumous narrator. Does knowing a character is dead right from the beginning ruin the movie for you?
Do stereotypical cliques continue to dominate high school environments in real life as they do in the movie?
How does Carson's death affect those around him, even the people who didn't like him or treat him well when he was alive?
Are the teen characters realistic? What about their choices/behavior?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 11, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : May 21, 2013
- Cast : Chris Colfer , Christina Hendricks , Rebel Wilson
- Director : Brian Dannelly
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Tribeca Productions
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Book Characters , School ( High School )
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate