Thunderstruck (2004)

Excellent but underrated film

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

OK, I'll say up front that this movie features only 1 AC/DC song (the title track) in the very beginning. At the end there's a good cover of "It's a Long Way to the Top", and somewhere in the middle is a bizarre country version of "TNT". Hardcore fans might recognize a song by Fraternity, Bon Scott's band before he sang for AC/DC.But this movie isn't really for hardcore AC/DC fans, it's for everyone. Rather than the music of AC/DC, it focuses on the mischief and mayhem caused by 4 loser friends in their late 20s, twelve years after their rock'n'roll dreams burned out.It's a road movie, meaning there's not much of a plot other than a bunch of guys being on the road most of the time. Strange, almost random scenes happen along the way, and that's what the fun is about.My favourite parts were: the creepy gas station guy and his "surprise", the crazed wheelchair rugby team, the Korean mafia (stick around after the credits), the argument over what letter should mark the spot (X?), and of course the two terminally stupid "Beavis & Butthead" fans who take the lyrics of "Jailbreak" too literally.Some might say that this film has deeper themes about loyalty to friends and youth, and about staying true to dreams despite getting older. But nah, I just see it as a wacky road movie."Thunderstruck" is pretty tame, not too much swearing and only one sexual situation. There are some references to drug use and 1 gross-out scene involving drugs and a toilet (and other things that go in toilets). But other than that it's mostly family-friendly.Three years after making "Thunderstruck", director Darren Ashton would make "Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Dance" which is my all-time fave Aussie comedy and one of the funniest comedies I've ever seen. For Ashton fans: these 2 movies are very different. While "Razzle Dazzle" has a cheeky Christopher-Guest-type of humour, "Thunderstruck" is more physical and in-your-face like maybe "Wedding Crashers".Other similar Aussie comedies I recommend are Alex Proyas's "Garage Days" about a struggling band trying to get their first big break, and "The Wannabees" about a team of foul-mouthed crooks who somehow become the nation's most popular children's show. See them all and maybe you'l agree, Aussie comedy rocks.

In terms of genre, this is a cross between a road movie (a drive across Australia by 4 men) and a comedy.But to appreciate this film, you probably need to know a lot about Australia and its culture and a reasonable amount about the rock group AC/DC, especially their early years. So probably the ideal viewer is a middle-aged Australian! I suspect other viewers simply may not understand the jokes nor recognise the many Australian actors and non-actors in cameo roles, that make the film such a delight.The pilgrimage to the grave of Bon Scott's grave is a real-life phenomena, with thousands of people visiting the grave every year, and apparently this film has contributed to even larger numbers of ACDC fans making the trip, so life does imitate art!

To understand just where this film goes wrong is too easy. A bashing together of all sorts of skits loosely trying to hold together a story of four guys traveling across the Australian desert. Although overdone, the concept could have fulfilled its potential if actors were given definite characters and if the pace was slowed down a bit. It seems to lull about awhile trying to find its feet before magically coming to the perfect solution in the end. A film that optimizes Australian film making at the present. Whilst films like this are being made- with no real plot, definite characters or originality - the film industry in Australia will always lack the thunder and lightning it needs. Great fun until you realize it isn't.

Lets face it, this movie was never meant to be "The Godfather: Part 2" or "Lost in Translation". It is totally about how far devoted fans of bands will go for their Idols and their mates. And you know what you are letting yourself in for before you even step up to the Ticket booth and say "2 for the next screening of Thunderstuck please"Revolving around 4 mates who are keeping a promise to a old friend (Ronnie) who unfortunately was literally struck by thunder when a rogue lighting strike hit him on a golf course. Sonny decides to pull the gang back together and take off with the ashes of Ronnie to the cemetery where Bon Scott grave is so they fulfill their promise to him. Of course They are on the east coast and the cemetery they have to get to is on the west coast, and in the middle is one of the roughest deserts in the world. And of course they have no money for a plane flight over, so what to do?So Let the Mayhem begin with Sonny "Borrowing" his Dad's most beloved Van for the Trip without telling him first of course. Sonny and Sam Drugging Ben to drag him away from his straight laced supermarket Job. Trying to keep the Cocaine trafficking Lloyd in line who is on the run from the Asian Triad, and being hit on by Petrol station owners. Oh it is never a easy road to keep a promise to your friends cremate ashes which you happened to steal from his Succubus ex-wife. But a Promise is a Promise.