Jim is a Texas police officer whose life is falling apart. His mother just died and his estranged wife plans to move away with their daughter. Though he pretends everything is fine, he has difficulties to cope with the situation, his unpredictable reactions making things worse. Alternating between tragedy and comedy, « Thunder road » explores human vulnerability and celebrates male sensitivity. The issue of toxic masculinity is implicitly addressed, the question being: how can you deal with your emotions if, as a man, you have always been told to repress them? Jim Cummings gives a strong performance. Despite overacting at times, he succeeds in making his character endearing. The most touching moments are the ones he spends with his daughter, trying his best to take care of her. This low budget movie is a good surprise. I enjoyed its quirky atmosphere. It is a rewarding experience until the end, the closing credits being visually and musically beautiful (with a moving violin and cello orchestration of « Skinny Love » by Vitamin String Quartet).
136 Reviews
Shouldn't work. Does.
Smallclone10023 October 2018
It's not often I enjoy a film with such constant tonal shifts throughout, but I did with this one. The film essentially made me laugh, made me emotive and made me think - which is all a viewer can ask for really. Right from the extraordinary opening monologue, the film grabs the viewer and reels you into the heady mix of comedy and tragedy. Some are going to hate this movie because of that. There are moments of black comedy placed into scenes of real drama - which shouldn't really work. But it does. For me at least.
The focus is on single parenting, life, stress, happiness, anxiety, mental health, love. Jim Cummings wrote, directed and starred in it - and you can tell he totally believed in this project by the performance he puts in. Although he can possibly be accused of overracting at times, he is quite brilliant at others. There are some flawed moments - some real "wtf" scenes with a potential dealbreaking third act.
The placement of comedy is the talking point in many places. But overall I would recommend this movie for those who are suckers for an indie dramedy. 7.5 / 10.
The focus is on single parenting, life, stress, happiness, anxiety, mental health, love. Jim Cummings wrote, directed and starred in it - and you can tell he totally believed in this project by the performance he puts in. Although he can possibly be accused of overracting at times, he is quite brilliant at others. There are some flawed moments - some real "wtf" scenes with a potential dealbreaking third act.
The placement of comedy is the talking point in many places. But overall I would recommend this movie for those who are suckers for an indie dramedy. 7.5 / 10.
goddamn.
JanJehnichen1 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I had expectations for it from the trailer but man did it blow it out the water. It is honestly one of the most refreshing and incredibly brilliant movies I've seen in a long time and it's sad that it will widely go unnoticed due to the fact that it's not had much of a spotlight on it. The raw human emotion in this movie though and the way its written is utter genius and the fact that this is written, directed and performed by Jim Cummings is honestly extraordinary I can't even put into words how amazing that is that he was able to pull this off as well as he did and I honestly implore anyone to see it.
This is why independent film exists.
mb-cunningham25 October 2018
If you have read the other reviews, then you will know that this movie is being judged for all the wrong reasons. Jim Cummings put his heart and soul into this film and because it is listed as a comedy and a drama, some have decided to deride this film because of it. It is what most would call a Black Comedy. I saw the official trailer for it, and anyone that saw the trailer would know that this is more drama/tragedy with dark comedic elements, but there are pedants here in internet land that wish to harp on about this film not being properly categorized. Get over it and watch the movie, because it is brilliant!
If you have ever experienced loss, then you will connect to the main character's myriad emotions. Jim Cummings does an excellent job as the beleaguered protagonist, and the film moves along at a stride that fits his circumstance, culminating in a third act that is a bit surprising, but fitting. I also loved Macon Blair (Blue Ruin), as Crystal's teacher. Independent films are not for everybody, and many of them are poorly executed, cast, or directed, but Thunder Road is the reason why I watch them, because, otherwise, all we would be presented with are big studio, unoriginal bombastic gunfight and explosion filled sensory overload. I like those movies too, but sometimes, it is a treasure to see a finely crafted and emotional character study.
Different and quirky doesn't always add up to excellent.
TxMike18 July 2020
I looked up this movie for one reason, only a day before I had watched Jocelyn DeBoer in "Greener Grass", the first I have seen of her, and was totally taken by how good she was in that one. So I naturally wondered how she would be in this one. It turns out her role as the estranged wife of officer Arnaud is not a very large one so she doesn't really stand out in this one.
"Thunder Road" is the brainchild of Jim Cummings who wrote, directed, and stars as Austin Texas police officer Jim Arnaud. As other reviewers have said the various scenes don't always connect into a broader story, the main feature is the bipolar nature of officer Arnaud. At times he will be calm and professional then some small thing will trigger him and he will become totally emotional and out of control. While this provides some interest by the end of the movie it has gotten old.
For me the best part of the movie was the character played by Kendal Farr, as the 9-yr-old daughter Crystal Arnaud. She is very cute and her acting is always spot on for the situation.
I found this to be an interesting take on mental illness but some of the extended screaming was hard to take, the "mute" button came in handy. I rate it as a mostly marginal movie, interesting to some but not to most general audiences.
I watched it streaming from Amazon via Roku.
"Thunder Road" is the brainchild of Jim Cummings who wrote, directed, and stars as Austin Texas police officer Jim Arnaud. As other reviewers have said the various scenes don't always connect into a broader story, the main feature is the bipolar nature of officer Arnaud. At times he will be calm and professional then some small thing will trigger him and he will become totally emotional and out of control. While this provides some interest by the end of the movie it has gotten old.
For me the best part of the movie was the character played by Kendal Farr, as the 9-yr-old daughter Crystal Arnaud. She is very cute and her acting is always spot on for the situation.
I found this to be an interesting take on mental illness but some of the extended screaming was hard to take, the "mute" button came in handy. I rate it as a mostly marginal movie, interesting to some but not to most general audiences.
I watched it streaming from Amazon via Roku.
For Jim Cummings alone it's already worth watching.
deloudelouvain23 May 2019
To be honest I never heard of Jim Cummings before, not as an actor nor as a writer, nor as a director, but after watching Thunder Road I will remember him in the future. This movie is a strange mixture of drama and comedy. You never completely know if it is sadness or laughter they were looking for and that's all credit to the excellent acting of Jim Cummings. I never saw a grown man crying so much in a movie and still be funny due to his facial expressions whilst crying. I truly enjoyed Thunder Road and I'm sure plenty of others will do also. An easy to watch story, with mixed emotions, but in the end better than I thought it would be.
Unexpected excellence.
thegermanhermit24 October 2018
A wonderful film that I certainly wouldn't say is a comedy. The film's moving as it's devoted to the human will, what it can endure, what it can overcome in the most dire of circumstances when need be. I feel as though it's a testament to the human experience. Life can hit you hard, over and over again, and you have to get back up, that's the message I gleaned. Cummings portrays his character with masterful skill, at no point did I think I was watching a film, I was all in and I truly hope we see more of him. This is a story of hope even though at times it is hard to see it.
Really, really strange, different and exhilarating.
RMurray84722 March 2021
THUNDER ROAD begins at a funeral. Actor/director/writer Jim Cummings plays Officer Jim, a cop who comes to the front of the church to eulogize his mother. This scene is one of the most amazing and unexpected scenes I've ever watched. In a few minutes, Officer Jim veers wildy from moments of light humor while recollecting his mom, to unstoppable tears, to deeply inappropriate dancing to, frankly, a total, emotional breakdown unlike any you've seen. This guy just looses his cool, but in a way that feels unique and organic. He's all over the place, and we laugh and then we're just appalled for him. It feels real and specific and is very moving and yet uncomfortably laughable at the same time. I've not seen anything quite like it. (Apparently, this scene was originally a short film Cummings made and used to scrounge up enough funding to stretch this character's experiences into a feature film.)
The scene is probably the best thing in the movie, as we move out of the church and spend more time with Jim and, in particular, his young daughter. The girl's mother is a mess...Jim cares for her and is deeply angry at her at the same time. In fact, Jim is subject to fits of rage. He is clearly carrying around a lot of grief and confusion, and he doesn't really have an outlet or anyone to "talk to" about it. He's a proud man who doesn't want to admit he's hurting. His temper is sometimes comical and sometimes terrifying. He is, in short, a mess. But you've never seen a character quite like this or a mess quite like it either. Cummings, who is not necessarily the most gifted actor ever, has a quality about him that I've not really seen in another "star." We can laugh with him and at him, and be infuriated by him yet root for him deeply. His brand of "messed-up-ness" is singular and we feel like we're seeing a real person break down.
But, despite the mess that Jim has become, the result of the movie (and it's string of odd incidents) is a feeling of hope and uplift. Life is never going to be perfect, far from it...but perhaps Jim learns to appreciate the little joys and victories it brings. We suspect he'll always be a bit of a mess, but we also see that he might be pulling his act together at least a little.
The film will be off-putting to some. It's low budget, and that often shows. It swings wildly in tone, often within scenes. It's tough to describe the emotional impact (is it a comedy with some drama, or a drama with some comedy, or is it even a drama that doesn't realize how silly much of it is?). Cummings has made one other film (THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW) that also plays around with similar themes of anger and inchoate reaching for manly self-improvement. If you can manage it, I'd suggest a mini-film festival, with THUNDER ROAD first and then SNOW HOLLOW. While the film(s) are far from perfect, the best thing I can say is that I still can't wait to see what Cummings comes up with next. Unique!
(PS: If you have the blu ray, watch the extras about how the film was funded. Crazy stuff!)
The scene is probably the best thing in the movie, as we move out of the church and spend more time with Jim and, in particular, his young daughter. The girl's mother is a mess...Jim cares for her and is deeply angry at her at the same time. In fact, Jim is subject to fits of rage. He is clearly carrying around a lot of grief and confusion, and he doesn't really have an outlet or anyone to "talk to" about it. He's a proud man who doesn't want to admit he's hurting. His temper is sometimes comical and sometimes terrifying. He is, in short, a mess. But you've never seen a character quite like this or a mess quite like it either. Cummings, who is not necessarily the most gifted actor ever, has a quality about him that I've not really seen in another "star." We can laugh with him and at him, and be infuriated by him yet root for him deeply. His brand of "messed-up-ness" is singular and we feel like we're seeing a real person break down.
But, despite the mess that Jim has become, the result of the movie (and it's string of odd incidents) is a feeling of hope and uplift. Life is never going to be perfect, far from it...but perhaps Jim learns to appreciate the little joys and victories it brings. We suspect he'll always be a bit of a mess, but we also see that he might be pulling his act together at least a little.
The film will be off-putting to some. It's low budget, and that often shows. It swings wildly in tone, often within scenes. It's tough to describe the emotional impact (is it a comedy with some drama, or a drama with some comedy, or is it even a drama that doesn't realize how silly much of it is?). Cummings has made one other film (THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW) that also plays around with similar themes of anger and inchoate reaching for manly self-improvement. If you can manage it, I'd suggest a mini-film festival, with THUNDER ROAD first and then SNOW HOLLOW. While the film(s) are far from perfect, the best thing I can say is that I still can't wait to see what Cummings comes up with next. Unique!
(PS: If you have the blu ray, watch the extras about how the film was funded. Crazy stuff!)
Is Jim Cummings the next can do it all rising star???
yooper3652 October 2018
Saw this a Hell's Half Mile Film fest in Bay City, Michigan and Jim Cummings wrote, directed and gave a stunning lead performance in this festival gem, which I believe is his first full feature after bouncing around doing short films and a little TV work. He has the acting chops to pull off his own written vision of this unstable police officer who can slip from calm, deranged and sorrowful multiple times within one scene. Impressive for he must do this most if not all of this 90 minute film carrying off this complicated character through losing his mother, wife in divorce, his job and every thing he holds dear as he sinks into despair. I hope this propels his movie making skills to new wide release films in the future.
Molecule Review: Thunder Road (7 Stars)
nairtejas5 January 2019
In Thunder Road, director Jim Cummings carves an almost perfect study of a character going through an emotional breakdown after the death of his mother. So much that together with Cummings's superb performance and a somber soundtrack that drives melancholy home, it is perhaps the very reason why the dark comedy drama is one of the best films to come out in 2018. There's so much to look and think about in Thunder Road, in some scenes, I just could not feel I had a bowl of popcorn in my hands. It's splendid and you need to watch it right now. TN.
BLUNDER ROAD
MadamWarden12 June 2020
Honestly, I really wanted to like this. An Indy movie giving it a go. But.... I struggle to get a grip on it. Was it a comedy? Not funny. Was it a drama? Too far fetched and unrealistic. Satire? No message.
Most unsatisfying
Most unsatisfying
Astonishing
evanston_dad6 September 2019
"Thunder Road" had been sitting on my Netflix queue for quite a while. Then I saw that it was one of the options on a flight from Phoenix to Chicago. I didn't end up having time to watch the whole thing, but I just wanted to see what kind of movie it was, so I watched the first few minutes. Anyone who's seen the film knows what those first 10 minutes or so are like, and probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that I immediately moved it to the top of my queue so that I could see the whole thing.
"Thunder Road" may seem simple; it's practically a one-man show. But it is quietly astonishing in the way it's written and especially acted by Jim Cummings. He plays a man at a crisis point in his life, trying to hang on to a daughter during a nasty divorce while watching his career as a police officer crumble due to his unhinged behavior. He's a man who means well and wants to do right by himself and those around him, but can't control himself from messing up in both small and major ways. The film is hilarious, but it always walks that knife edge between funny and uncomfortable. This kind of dark humor is a tight rope act to pull off, but Cummings is expert at it, and I was absolutely fascinated by him and his performance. I didn't really want the movie to end, because I wanted to keep on spending time with this guy, even though he's exhausting to be with. That's the sign of a truly gifted actor.
You know, lately there has been so much complaining about white males and how everything has always been told through a white male perspective and that now it's time for women and people of color to take the stage and tell their stories. I embrace all stories and love seeing the world through the point of view of people who are very different from me. But "Thunder Road" is an example of how stories about and told by white men can still be interesting too, and we'd be making a mistake as a culture to just outright decide that white men's stories are no longer worth listening to just because we've been hearing them for so long.
Grade: A+
"Thunder Road" may seem simple; it's practically a one-man show. But it is quietly astonishing in the way it's written and especially acted by Jim Cummings. He plays a man at a crisis point in his life, trying to hang on to a daughter during a nasty divorce while watching his career as a police officer crumble due to his unhinged behavior. He's a man who means well and wants to do right by himself and those around him, but can't control himself from messing up in both small and major ways. The film is hilarious, but it always walks that knife edge between funny and uncomfortable. This kind of dark humor is a tight rope act to pull off, but Cummings is expert at it, and I was absolutely fascinated by him and his performance. I didn't really want the movie to end, because I wanted to keep on spending time with this guy, even though he's exhausting to be with. That's the sign of a truly gifted actor.
You know, lately there has been so much complaining about white males and how everything has always been told through a white male perspective and that now it's time for women and people of color to take the stage and tell their stories. I embrace all stories and love seeing the world through the point of view of people who are very different from me. But "Thunder Road" is an example of how stories about and told by white men can still be interesting too, and we'd be making a mistake as a culture to just outright decide that white men's stories are no longer worth listening to just because we've been hearing them for so long.
Grade: A+
A deftly presented tragicomedy
Metaflix17 October 2018
'Thunder Road' is a deftly presented tragicomedy by writer/director/star Jim Cummings. Winner of multiple film festival awards--including SXSW's Grand Jury Award--the movie is a hidden gem amongst a crowded autumn release schedule.
Unwatchable bore
vcgraves24 August 2019
Don't be hoodwinked by all these glowing reviews. I am no art house cinema scholar by any means; I'm pretty much an Average Joe. And I could not stand this film. I tried, oh believe me, I tried. I thought, "the good part's coming any minute now", or, "there's got to be a payoff here sooner or later!"
Nope. No such so. I should have known from the opening scene. (No spoilers). The camera rolls, unedited, for over six minutes, in one room, focused on one guy.
Cringeworthy. Boring. B-O-R-I-N-G. And that sets the pace for the whole flick. Every scene is too long. The camera just lingers, and lingers, as the lines of sparse dialog
are dispersed by a writer who apparently thinks they are funny, or somehow profound. They are neither.
Did I mention none of the characters are likeable, or even make sense? Why does this or that character have such an annoying personality? There's never an explanation. So, please don't waste your time with this. I've wasted enough of mine already.
This ain't a beauty but hey its alright
fromTull31 January 2020
What a humble and heartfelt film that actually has something to say! I watched the trailer and assumed it would be heavy, but the trailer doesn't do this film justice. Its more than that. It's about a decorated police officer who is literally going through the worst time of his life. Losing his mom, divorce, shaky child custody and who is also having a hell of a time at work, so yeah, it's heavy. But fortunately it's interspersed with comedy in places you wouldn't expect it. We laughed aloud so many times. We also teared up. It's a beautiful story about a fighter who is falling apart but still not down for the count ("If you see me wrestling an alligator. . . help the alligator"). Themes of family, loss, and coping are prevalent. The film shows that it isn't so much about winning the game of life as it is about just making it through it with someone you love. I went through every emotion, but when the credits rolled there was a smile on my face and a tear in my eye. Too bad we live in the era where "Black Panther" and "Get Out" receive obligatory Oscar nods, and the days AND The Academy that nominated "The English Patient" and "Good Will Hunting" are long past, otherwise, this humble little movie would've OWNED Oscar night.
Has All The Makings Of An Indie Classic
CinemaClown2 February 2021
Having seen Jim Cummings' The Wolf of Snow Hollow only recently which left me super impressed, I figured I might as well check out his breakthrough feature. And now that I've seen it, I have to say that he is undoubtedly one of the most exciting & promising talents working in the industry today. And Thunder Road is a brilliant showcase of his prowess as a writer, director & actor.
Written, directed, composed & co-edited by Cummings who also plays the lead in this picture, this feature film serves as an extension of his 2016 short of the same name and opens with an unbroken 12-mins long scene of a police officer giving a eulogy for his mother which immediately sets the mood & tone of the rest of the story which follows our protagonist as he suffers a personal meltdown.
The real highlight of this film is the way it balances & blends elements of flat-out comedy & poignant drama in the same setup, at times in the same exact moment. It's not an easy thing to pull off, for it looks rather absurd when it goes wrong but Cummings not only makes it all work perfectly, he truly revels in those scenes. His live wire input in front of the camera is just as impressive as his solid effort behind it.
Overall, Thunder Road is a sharp, slick & side-splitting indie that brims with heart & honesty, and makes for an awkward yet effective blend of heartbreak & hilarity. Led by Jim Cummings' superb direction, smart writing & spectacular performance and also assisted by its breezy pace, fluid camerawork & neat editing, the film is a roller-coaster ride that's simultaneously amusing & heartrending, and is one indie gem you should definitely check out.
Written, directed, composed & co-edited by Cummings who also plays the lead in this picture, this feature film serves as an extension of his 2016 short of the same name and opens with an unbroken 12-mins long scene of a police officer giving a eulogy for his mother which immediately sets the mood & tone of the rest of the story which follows our protagonist as he suffers a personal meltdown.
The real highlight of this film is the way it balances & blends elements of flat-out comedy & poignant drama in the same setup, at times in the same exact moment. It's not an easy thing to pull off, for it looks rather absurd when it goes wrong but Cummings not only makes it all work perfectly, he truly revels in those scenes. His live wire input in front of the camera is just as impressive as his solid effort behind it.
Overall, Thunder Road is a sharp, slick & side-splitting indie that brims with heart & honesty, and makes for an awkward yet effective blend of heartbreak & hilarity. Led by Jim Cummings' superb direction, smart writing & spectacular performance and also assisted by its breezy pace, fluid camerawork & neat editing, the film is a roller-coaster ride that's simultaneously amusing & heartrending, and is one indie gem you should definitely check out.
Competent effort
kevandeb11 November 2018
As somebody from the U.K. critiquing a US drama it is a difficult job, especially when nuances, way of life and local daily life is so difficult to encapsulate for somebody who does not live and breathe life in a certain country, state or even town.
Again, whilst I found Jim an anomaly of a character, somebody I do not recognise in the U.K. per se, I embrace that this could be normal in small town America. I did not dislike it, in fact the acting and pathos ran well with a viewers affection for the main cast and I always welcome a film that feels strong enough to omit (sometimes annoying) background music. That said, anything named after a song by the 'Peoples Poet' and one of my all time favourite songs I would like some reference to it and perhaps for it to be a backdrop to the film. Now I could be missing a trick here that the song was never played for a deeper meaning, but it would have served the film better, in my opinion, if this was a haunting backdrop to the crises being played out.
When all said and done, a solid effort that improved as it progressed.
Worth it
hazemabdo-301711 April 2019
I don't think I got an experience watching a movie like this one , it made me laugh , it made me sad , made me laugh while being sad , sad while laughing , and Jim Cummings great performance really helped make that happen . The timing of comedy yeah was weird and in other movies I would hate it but I don't know why but it wasn't a problem for me .
Yeah some scenes felt pointless to the story overall but they were also enjoyable .
Jim wanted to talk about many things in his movie but I think the main idea is the feeling of losing everything and everyone you love and acting like you are still in control and that everything is just fine .
So I will be looking forward for more from him.
Thunder Road Review
theorchestra1 June 2019
The most impressive thing about Thunder Road is Jim Cummings incredible performance and the fact that he also wrote and directed this film is noteworthy. The plot does a really good job of portraying a character that is hitting rock bottom in his life where nothing seems to go his way.
Certain scenes made me feel uncomfortable but in a good way and i attribute that to a really genuine and real feeling dialogue paired with incredible camera work, one-shots and zooms that really elevate the film in general. The only thing i took issue with is that the score felt really bland and underwhelming but that's about it. This movie makes me really excited for what Jim does next and it is definitely worth watching.
Certain scenes made me feel uncomfortable but in a good way and i attribute that to a really genuine and real feeling dialogue paired with incredible camera work, one-shots and zooms that really elevate the film in general. The only thing i took issue with is that the score felt really bland and underwhelming but that's about it. This movie makes me really excited for what Jim does next and it is definitely worth watching.
A brilliant one man movie
valleyjohn6 October 2020
This is what you the term Hidden
Gem was made for . Originally a short , this was written
, directed and acted by the brilliant Jim Cummings and if it wasn't a film from two years ago it would be one of my favourites of 2020.
Jim Cummings stars as a police officer from Texas who deals with the death of his mother while giving a heartfelt eulogy at her funeral. Inspired by the music of singer-songwriter, Bruce Springsteen.
There have been many good films ( and bad) about someone having a melt down. It's kind of heartening In a sick way to see it happening to someone else and not yourself but this melt down is unlike any other I've seen on screen.
It's funny and sad at the same time and the performance from Jim Cummings it amazing . Jim Armand is a man who's life is collapsing around him. He's very angry but he's not a bad guy , in fact he's a nice guy , so subsequently his anger is almost apologetic. Cumming's has written some wonderful dialogue here and because he's acting it as well , he absolutely nails it. The emotional scenes are funny and cringeworthy and you can't help but root for Jim.
The first ten minutes is an eulogy to his mother at her funeral and it's breathtakingly brilliant . Thankfully I don't go to many funerals but if I did , I want them to be as entertaining as this one!
Highly Recommended
Jim Cummings stars as a police officer from Texas who deals with the death of his mother while giving a heartfelt eulogy at her funeral. Inspired by the music of singer-songwriter, Bruce Springsteen.
There have been many good films ( and bad) about someone having a melt down. It's kind of heartening In a sick way to see it happening to someone else and not yourself but this melt down is unlike any other I've seen on screen.
It's funny and sad at the same time and the performance from Jim Cummings it amazing . Jim Armand is a man who's life is collapsing around him. He's very angry but he's not a bad guy , in fact he's a nice guy , so subsequently his anger is almost apologetic. Cumming's has written some wonderful dialogue here and because he's acting it as well , he absolutely nails it. The emotional scenes are funny and cringeworthy and you can't help but root for Jim.
The first ten minutes is an eulogy to his mother at her funeral and it's breathtakingly brilliant . Thankfully I don't go to many funerals but if I did , I want them to be as entertaining as this one!
Highly Recommended
Good tragic, not a comedy
tollko1 July 2020
Amazing acting and a well-done indie feel is what makes this movie stand out. Just from a technical standpoint, it's a good tragic.
On the other hand, it seems very odd to me that this would be classified as a comedy. I have read theories that this was done purely for marketing, which would be understandable. But I have read reviews of people describing the "amazing cringe comedy" and how they "couldn't stop laughing" which is just bizarre to me. There is a great number of "comic" scenes, in the meaning of "weird". A few of them are lighthearted and I can see someone cracking a smile during those. But most of them present real life problems that people with mental illnesses, such as the main character depicts, encounter and struggle with.
To me, those scenes just added to the tragic: showing how intolerant society is towards people who don't completely fit the norm. But the frustrating thing is that apparently, this is in no way exaggerated from real life. Apparently, viewers also find it funny to laugh at characters who stand out in their struggle to live a normal life.
On the other hand, it seems very odd to me that this would be classified as a comedy. I have read theories that this was done purely for marketing, which would be understandable. But I have read reviews of people describing the "amazing cringe comedy" and how they "couldn't stop laughing" which is just bizarre to me. There is a great number of "comic" scenes, in the meaning of "weird". A few of them are lighthearted and I can see someone cracking a smile during those. But most of them present real life problems that people with mental illnesses, such as the main character depicts, encounter and struggle with.
To me, those scenes just added to the tragic: showing how intolerant society is towards people who don't completely fit the norm. But the frustrating thing is that apparently, this is in no way exaggerated from real life. Apparently, viewers also find it funny to laugh at characters who stand out in their struggle to live a normal life.
Doesn't deserve the hype
embmw22 October 2018
I love dark humor in trying situations but the humor in this supposed comedy/drama is more appropriate for a Kevin James sitcom than what is apparently intended to be an emotional film. Moreover, the protagonist is unlikable, so it's difficult to have empathy for his situation (which becomes ridiculous anyway). The entire movie is filled with angst, but it has no heart. So instead of being drawn in by the characters you wind up wanting them to just go away.
I usually hang on until the end in hopes a bad movie will get better, but I only made it halfway through this one and I still want my 45 minutes back. How this is rated as high as it is escapes me, unless the voting is rigged. If you want to see unstable cops acting out just watch an episode of "Reno 911!"-- it's better than this tripe and it'll be over sooner. It you want to see dark humor done right, watch "In Bruge". But don't waste your time on this mess.
I usually hang on until the end in hopes a bad movie will get better, but I only made it halfway through this one and I still want my 45 minutes back. How this is rated as high as it is escapes me, unless the voting is rigged. If you want to see unstable cops acting out just watch an episode of "Reno 911!"-- it's better than this tripe and it'll be over sooner. It you want to see dark humor done right, watch "In Bruge". But don't waste your time on this mess.
Jim Cummings is a triple threat
jackgdemoss2 July 2019
Raw and potent emotions. Thunder Road strives due to Jim Cummings portrayal of how humans in the real-world display anger, confusion, sorrow, and thrilled excitement. Until now, I was yet to see a film properly show that feeling when you are so excited that you tear up a bit and hold an ugly but genuine smile. A majority of Thunder Road is actually just long shot monologues by Cummings' character, but it is performed so well that it works without boring the audience. There really was not rising or falling action because it was so grounded in reality, which rarely has such a pattern. This 90-minute watch is worth every second of the time spent.
Short review
sarathpillaijl23 June 2019
This movie definitely portrays the complex human phsycology. The amount of stress people go through after a problem. But in the end this movie also gives us a feeling of serenity that everything is going to be alright.
The direction and screenplay is ok.
The cast is wonderful although a change of cast for some roles might have improved the movie more. The lead actor is talented and perfect.
The story is pretty vague. It isnt an awesome story or anything but the emotions is delivered correctly.
Overall a good Movie
Not a comedy, but a drama, not the best.
matthewsccrhome223 October 2018
I'd need to preface this that this movie is in no way, in my opinion, a comedy. This movie is a drama and is meant to pull the heartstrings. It does this pulling well.... eventually (read the rest). Most of the movie seems to be a show of how the main character has it going against him. The movie does, eventually (and I mean a long eventually), shows how the main character becomes the hero of the story to what's important. With that out of the way...
Every character in this movie is gutter trash in one way or another. Enjoy the movie as a time waster and a, again extremely long eventual, heartstrings puller. The hero, the wife, the child, the boss, and every character in this movie, expect the dead mother, are all extremely horrible to each other.
Horrible comedy, even as a dark one. Abysmal drama tbh. Don't waste your time on this one; I wish I hadn't.
Every character in this movie is gutter trash in one way or another. Enjoy the movie as a time waster and a, again extremely long eventual, heartstrings puller. The hero, the wife, the child, the boss, and every character in this movie, expect the dead mother, are all extremely horrible to each other.
Horrible comedy, even as a dark one. Abysmal drama tbh. Don't waste your time on this one; I wish I hadn't.
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