Thunderpants (2002)

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.

Director:

Peter Hewitt (as Pete Hewitt)

Writers:

Peter Hewitt (story) (as Pete Hewitt), Phil Hughes

Stars:

Simon Callow, Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Patrick Smash (11) was born with two stomachs, and hence the uncontrollable 'talent' to produce ungodly farts. This soon drives his own dad away and makes his social life hell. His only friend is classmate Alan A. Allen, a prodigy genius, who has no sense of smell. Even Alan's invention Thunderpants, which renders Patrick's farts harmless, can't make his space travel dream realistic. However after the invention of an adaptation which turns it into flying fuel, Alan is recruited by the US space center. Patrick becomes word class tenor Sir John Osgood's secret high C farter. Their reunion is even more incredible.

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Plot Keywords:

invention | astronaut | tenor | dream | best friend | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Genius Products [United States]

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Plein gaz

Filming Locations:

153 Hammersmith Road, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£430,913 (United Kingdom), 26 May 2002, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

CP Medien AG, Mission Pictures, Pathé Pictures International

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are 50 farts in the movie.

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Quotes

Patrick Smash: All right, then.
[repeated line]

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Connections

Spoofs The Right Stuff (1983)

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Soundtracks

Going All the Way
Written by R. Davis / M. Ankelius / H. Anderson
Performed by allStars

User Reviews

severely misunderstood

this movie is called thunderpants. it is about someone who breaks wind a lot. and yet many people seem to only see a boy continually breaking wind.

the fact is, this movie has been misunderstood by most people. where they see a ridiculous and unrealistic story, I see a quirky, silly, and surprisingly un-fart-related tale of a boy trying to find his friend and them both fulfilling their ambitions. it does not show a story solely about flatulence; it uses flatulence as a basis for telling the story of the two best friends.

the acting is second rate, the plot is suitably silly, and I love the 'green theme' that is shown throughout. At some parts, it is actually very sad (but surprisingly, these seem to have been ignored by most people).

in my opinion, it tells the story really rather well. it doesn't take itself too seriously, it has some very big names in it, and it's really a shame that no-one seems to get it.

8/10