It's hard to think of a film more carefully aimed at an audience of 10-year-olds than this: a wacky comedy about a boy with a gift for flatulence. Patrick (Cook) is a lonely nerd who has always caused problems due to his constant, loud farting. He only has one friend, Alan (Grint), a juvenile mad scientist inventor with no sense of smell. Together they plot ways to help control Patrick's problem. Which leads us to Thunderpants, Alan's series of increasingly ambitious inventions that first lets Patrick live a normal life, then puts his "gift" to use for far bigger purposes. Throw in the world's second greatest tenor (Callow), a stern schoolteacher (Imrie), and a couple of US Space Centre guys (Giamatti and Beatty) who desperately need Alan and Patrick's help.

It's all so silly and ludicrous that it defies discussion, really. As the plot gets more and more outlandish, you either have to just go along for the ride or you're in big trouble. Suffice it to say that if you have a 10-year-old boy lurking inside you anywhere, you've simply got to see this film. Hewitt directs with the same timeless style as his version of The Borrowers--carefully designed sets and characters that all work together to tell an otherworldly story. It's a very well-made film, actually, and the performances are all good, with little details for adults to enjoy (well, for the 10-year-old inside the adult). And there are even a few good laughs, if you're not too demanding. Just ignore the rather clunky moral about finding your place in life, and for heaven's sake don't expect anything even remotely serious!

vulgarity, language

13.Jan.02