Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Talent-swapping basketball tale is bland but OK for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Thunderstruck
What's the Story?
Oklahoma City teen Brian (Taylor Gray) loves basketball and idolizes Thunder star Kevin Durant. Problem is, Brian isn't all that good -- he's only the equipment manager of his high school's varsity team. When Brian attends a Thunder game, he even botches the halftime free-throw contest. But as a consolation, he gets a signed ball from Durant -- and in the moment they both touch the basketball, they somehow magically exchange talent. Following the incident, KD goes from all-star to worst player in the NBA, while Brian joins the team, led by clueless Coach Amross (James Belushi), and takes it all the way to regional championships. But unless the two can figure out how to undo their transfer of talent, Durant will be doomed.
Is It Any Good?
The movie feels thrown together, but young basketball fans might be too excited to see Brian try out his new Durant-sized moves (not to mention the NBA star himself) to care. There's no question that Durant is an amazing basketball player. And he's not just a gifted athlete but a humble one at that. While his humility makes him a fascinating player off camera (he'd make an interesting documentary subject), he lacks the larger-than-life charisma of NBA alums like Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and the late Bubba Smith. This is a fact that O'Neal and Barkley make clear in their brief cameos as Inside NBA commentators.
But THUNDERSTRUCK isn't a dud just because of Durant's subdued demeanor and inability to command a presence off the court. Brian is similarly underwhelming. Naturally the character couldn't have been dizzingly handsome, or his status as high-school nerd wouldn't have been believed. But that doesn't mean he couldn't have been sweet and charming; unfortunately, in Gray's hands, Brian never really sells his character's transformation.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why body-swapping stories are so popular in movies. How does this one compare to others like Freaky Friday and Vice Versa?
What does Isabel mean about the basketball changing Brian? How does he begin to act differently at school?
Is Kevin Durant a good actor here? Do you think he could play someone other than himself? Can you think of other athletes who've become actors?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 31, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : December 4, 2012
- Cast : James Belushi , Kevin Durant , Taylor Gray
- Director : John Whitesell
- Studio : Warner Premiere
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : mild language and rude humor
- Last updated : March 14, 2020
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