Thunderpants (2002)

Director:

Peter Hewitt

Writers:

Peter Hewitt (story)
Phil Hughes

Release Date:

24 May 2002 (Ireland)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

An 11-year-old boy's amazing ability to break wind leads him first to fame and then to death row, before it helps him to fulfill his ambition of becoming an astronaut.

Plot Keywords:

Redhead | Punishment | Public Humiliation | Underwear | Bully

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Simon Callow	...	Sir John Osgood
Stephen Fry	...	Sir Anthony Silk
Celia Imrie	...	Miss Rapier
Paul Giamatti	...	Johnson J. Johnson
Ned Beatty	...	Gen. Ed Sheppard
Bruce Cook	...	Patrick Smash
Rupert Grint	...	Alan A. Allen
Bronagh Gallagher	...	Mrs. Smash
Victor McGuire	...	Mr. Smash
Adam Godley	...	Placido P. Placeedo
Leslie Phillips	...	Judge
Robert Hardy	...	Doctor
John Higgins	...	Paediatrician
Lillie Crossley	...	Denise, age 5
Sam Davies	...	Patrick, age 3
Daniel Williams	...	Patrick, age 5
Scarlet Billham	...	Denise, age 7
Josh Herdman	...	Damon (as Joshua Herdman)
Devon Anderson	...	Dan
Jock Norton	...	Jake
Chris Stanton	...	Smooth teacher
Anna Popplewell	...	Denise Smash
Mark Heenehan	...	Todd Banner
Del Synnott	...	Music student
Vicki Pepperdine	...	Reporter
Adrian McLoughlin	...	Bob Rodgers
Ernesto Tomasini	...	Italian concierge
Geoffrey McGivern	...	Metallurgist
Dick Ward	...	Prison guard
Stephen Boswell	...	Prison Priest
John Arthur	...	Prison governor
Glenn Wrage	...	Pilot
Paul Rogan	...	USSC Scientist
Gillian Maguire	...	Emmanuele
Alvin Chitroda	...	Taj
Pablo Duarte	...	Jose
Colin Stinton	...	Foster
John Hodgkinson	...	Launch Controller 1
Nigel Betts	...	Launch Controller 2
Rory MacGregor	...	Launch Controller 3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Bennett	...	Juror (uncredited)
Gabriel Currington	...	Conductor (uncredited)
Neil Findlater	...	Judge (uncredited)
Joe Gunn	...	School Student (uncredited)
Keira Knightley	...	Music School Student (uncredited)
Amy Puglia	...	School Bully (uncredited)
Bernadette Jane Vanderkar	...	School Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Hewitt		(as Pete Hewitt)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Peter Hewitt		story (as Pete Hewitt)
Phil Hughes

Produced by
Graham Broadbent	....	producer
Sally French	....	co-producer
Katie Goodson	....	associate producer
Andrew Hauptman	....	executive producer
Peter Hewitt	....	producer (as Pete Hewitt)
François Ivernel	....	executive producer
Damian Jones	....	producer
Cameron McCracken	....	executive producer
Dieter Meyer	....	associate producer
Roland Pellegrino	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Rupert Gregson-Williams

Cinematography by
Andy Collins

Film Editing by
Michael Parker

Casting by
Abi Cohen
Randi Hiller

Production Design by
Chris Roope

Art Direction by
Tim Stevenson

Costume Design by
Ann Maskrey

Makeup Department
Carol Cooper	....	makeup artist
Gemma Curran	....	makeup trainee
Carlene Gearing	....	hair stylist
Carlene Gearing	....	makeup artist
Joan Hills	....	makeup artist
Sarah Love	....	hair stylist
Eva Marieges Moore	....	hair stylist
Eva Marieges Moore	....	makeup artist
Dianne Millar	....	makeup artist
Gillian Thomas	....	makeup artist
Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou	....	hair designer (as Lizzie Yianni-Georgiou)
Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou	....	makeup designer (as Lizzie Yianni-Georgiou)

Production Management
Miranda Jones	....	post-production supervisor
Emma Mager	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Goodwin	....	assistant director
Mary Soan	....	first assistant director
Adrian Toynton	....	second assistant director
Christopher Granier-Deferre	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Martin Asbury	....	storyboard artist
Mario Bueno	....	property master
Rob Calderwood	....	model maker
Julian Caldow	....	concept illustrator
Julian Caldow	....	conceptual artist
Jennifer Clapcott	....	buyer's assistant (as Jenny Clapcott)
Chris Daniels	....	carpenter
Jamie Davies-Evans	....	chargehand painter
David Engleman	....	carpenter
Eddie Haddow	....	carpenter
Tony Hill	....	painter
Nick Holmes	....	painter
Gerry Kelly	....	stand-by painter
Emma MacDevitt	....	stand-by art director
Alex MacDonald	....	painter
Chrissie MacDonald	....	art department assistant
Meike Maher	....	graphic artist (as Meike Meng)
Ben Munro	....	assistant art director
Mark Painter	....	carpenter
Mike Roberts	....	dressing props
Guy Rutter	....	painter
Zoe Scivoletto	....	buyer's assistant
Christian Short	....	stand-by props
Neil Stevens	....	model maker
Nic Stubbings	....	stand-by props
Ian Summers	....	carpenter
Graham Ward	....	dressing props
Chris Watson	....	stand-by carpenter
Duncan Wheeler	....	production buyer (as Duncan Windram-Wheeler)
Augustus David Wookey	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Tom Barrow	....	sound trainee
Paula Borham	....	foley artist
Ricky Butt	....	foley artist
Paul Carr	....	adr mixer
Tim Cavagin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ed Colyer	....	foley mixer
St. Clair Davis	....	boom operator
St. Clair Davis	....	sound maintenance
Tim Fraser	....	production sound mixer
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Loveday Harding	....	sound maintenance
Claire Mahoney	....	foley artist (as Clare Mahoney)
Michael Redfern	....	adr editor
Michael Redfern	....	foley editor
Andy Shelley	....	dialogue editor
Steve Single	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
Ian Wilson	....	supervising sound editor
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Rick Marr	....	senior special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Gillian Best	....	digital effects artist
Jim Bowers	....	digital matte painter
Mike Connolly	....	digital compositor: Double Negative
Hal Couzens	....	visual effects producer
Dayne Cowan	....	digital effects artist
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: Double Negative
Yoko Ishiguro	....	compositor
Tim Johnson	....	computer imaging
Alasdair MacCuish	....	digital lab supervisor: Framestore CFC
Riddle Paul	....	visual effects supervisor
Paul Riddle	....	visual effects supervisor
Matthew Shaw	....	video editorial
Alex Ireland	....	scanning & recording (uncredited)
Adam McInnes	....	compositor (uncredited)
Alberto Montañés	....	rotoscope artist: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Davey	....	stunts
Glenn Marks	....	stunt coordinator
Tony Van Silva	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Nick Beeks-Sanders	....	camera operator
Harry Bowers	....	clapper loader
Steve Costello	....	gaffer
Tobias Eedy	....	clapper loader
Joseph Hassell	....	video playback operator
Steve Howe	....	electrical rigger
Jamie Hunt	....	electrician
Wayne King	....	gaffer: additional photography
Alison Lai	....	camera trainee
Mark Milsome	....	focus puller
Dave Moore	....	rigging gaffer
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator
Colin Price	....	electrician
Stuart Rainsford	....	electrician
Steve Roberts	....	best boy
Donald Russell	....	focus puller
Keith Sewell	....	Steadicam operator
Robin Stone	....	grip
Steve Weightman	....	grip

Casting Department
Kate Bryden	....	casting: children
Sarah Finn	....	casting: USA (as Sarah Halley Finn)
Lynn Glaser	....	casting: children (as Lynn Emblem)
Pippa Hall	....	casting: children
Annie Teague	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Bennett	....	wardrobe assistant
Lee Croucher	....	costume assistant
David J. Evans	....	costume assistant
Emma Fryer	....	costume buyer
Day Murch	....	assistant costume designer
Ann Taylor	....	costume supervisor (as Ann Taylor-Cowan)
Jane Law	....	costumes (uncredited)
Paul Slash Morris	....	wardrobe technician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Nick Baldock	....	editor trainee
Guy Ducker	....	first assistant editor
Rupert Hall	....	film conform editor
John Heath	....	color grader
Katya Jezzard	....	film conform editor
Alan Jones	....	on-line editor
Tomomi Kitamura	....	junior conforming editor

Music Department
Marc Aramian	....	music editor
Becky Bentham	....	music supervisor
Matt Biffa	....	music supervisor
Chris Bolster	....	assistant music mixer
Chris Clark	....	music mixer
Chris Clark	....	music recordist
Guy Fletcher	....	montage sequences: composer
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Julian Gavin	....	singing voice: Simon Callow
Rupert Gregson-Williams	....	orchestrator
Christian Henson	....	electronic music preparation
Patrick Kiernan	....	orchestra leader
Alastair King	....	conductor
Alastair King	....	orchestrator
Richard Robson	....	electronic music preparation
Nick Wollage	....	music mixer
Nick Wollage	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Matthew Strange	....	vehicles: 4x4
Ben Dillon	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Kim Armitage	....	script supervisor
Sonia Coppi	....	assistant to director
Wim De Greef	....	production accountant
Christine Dinwoodie	....	assistant production coordinator
Matthew T. Gannon	....	head of development: Pathe Pictures
Lynne Greenshields	....	assistant production accountant
Louisa Harding	....	senior conformer
Andrew Mannion	....	floor runner (as Andy Mannion)
Kate Newport	....	floor runner
Nick Oliver	....	assistant location manager
Emma Pill	....	location manager
Christelle Randall	....	unit publicist
Christian Rigg	....	floor runner
Ed Rubin	....	assistant to producers
Donald Sabourin	....	production coordinator
Matthew Sampson	....	production runner
Clair Smith	....	wig maker: baby wigs
Emma Stokes	....	floor runner
Harriet Tarnoy Griffin	....	mission runner
Richard Warlow	....	development executive: Pathe Pictures
Susanna Wyatt	....	head of physical production: Pathe Pictures
Roger Phillips	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Keira Knightley	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• CP Medien AG
• Mission Pictures
• Pathé Pictures International

Distributors

• Pathé Distribution (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• GAGA (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Genius Products (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Weinstein Company, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Double Negative
• Effects Associates
• FB-FX (construction: Thunderpants I)
• Hot House Effects Ltd. (construction: Thunderpants II)
• MTFX
• Mark Holt Special Effects

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Abbey Road Studios  music recorded at
• Air-Edel Associates  music supervision
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Compuhire  computer and video playback
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Frameline Productions  title design
• General Screen Enterprises  end titles and opticals
• Goldcrest Post Production London  ADR Facility
• Hothouse Music  music supervision by
• Hyperactive Sound Design  editing equipment
• Mad Dog Casting  crowd casting
• Nats Post Production  on-line editing
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Sound Design Company, The  sound editing equipment
• Tru-Cut  negative cutting
• Twickenham Studios  sound recorded at (as Twickenham Film Studios)
• V.F.G.  camera and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for ongoing crude humor, language, some violence and bullying

Runtime:

UK:83 min | UK:87 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL | UK:PG | Canada:G (Ontario) | Iceland:L | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

153 Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Company:

CP Medien AG

Trivia:

Keira Knightley has a small cameo as one of the music school students. Although she is not mentioned in the cast list, she appears in the "Special Thanks to" list further in the credits.

Quotes:

Alan A. Allen:I am an inventor, Patrick. An inventor of machines.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Soundtrack:

Going All the Way

Has its moments but it is hard to get past the constant childish and puerile aspects that overwhelm it

Born with two stomachs, Patrick Smash is a normal boy in that he constantly farts; however for Patrick it is different as he doesn't do it for laughs – he actually cannot stop. His father cannot cope and leaves, his mother turns to drink and his only friend at school is a ginger "genius" boy whose nerdy ways make him equally a target for bullies. Patrick has one dream – to become an astronaut but he knows that to do this he must solve his problems and discover the gift that will make him a unique member of any team. With Alan's help he gets a pair of trousers which contain his gases and make him "normal". When Alan goes away in mysterious circumstances, Patrick thinks he will never get the other half of his goal – to discover his gift, but then a series of chance events sees him starting the most important journey of his life.

I don't really feel like I have any reason to complain because, at the end of the day, I sat down to watch a children's film called Thunderpants in full knowledge that the plot was pretty much about a young boy with uncontrollable flatulence. Regardless of this I sat to watch it and found a film that had some things going for it but was overwhelmed by a film that revels in the silliness of the affair in a rather childish manner. I suppose that this will draw giggles from an audience of young children but then this still leaves adults with nothing to do. At least in some kids films the product is good enough to at least distract adults but here they will struggle to get over the fact that, unless you like fart jokes then there won't be much else for you. That said I did actually laugh a few times and it did have at least one aspect that kept me engaged – the cast.

This is not to say that they were any good but more that I was constantly taken by surprise by how many big names seem to have thought this material fit of adding their weight to. Cook is fairly bland, although with such a poor character this is no real surprise; his flat and unfunny voice-over is an irritation though. Grint is pretty simplistic as well, with no real imagination in his "genius" character. The film features a bewildering number of well-known faces in small roles and I really did wonder what made them feel that this film was worth supporting with their presence. Callow is pretty poor; Fry is amusing in his usual upperclass, rather clipped fashion; Beatty seems to be at least entering into the spirit of things but Giamatti just seems to be getting through the film rather than getting into it. However even he looks like he has made a good choice when compared to the presence of the great Leslie Phillips, who has nothing to do at all to do.

Overall this is a poor film but it is not as awful as some would have you believe. The fart jokes will amuse kids although it is likely that, at the age to find it funny, they will then get bored when the "plot proper" kicks in. Adults will find it all too childish and silly but will perhaps get some laughs here and there and will at least be bemused (if not actually entertained) by the presence of so many famous faces for no discernible reason. The ultimate message of overcoming etc is a bit smug and obvious and you do have to wonder whether parents will really want their kids to watch a film that encourages farting as an admirable quality.