Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy, a married couple, have collaborated on numerous films throughout Falcone’s directing career. Virtually every film he has directed, written, or produced stars McCarthy in the leading role, all exploring different kinds of comedy. From romantic comedies (Superintelligence) to crime stories (The Happytime Murders), and including a road trip movie (Tammy), now comes Thunder Force, which enters the very popular superhero genre. However, I don’t think the couple's main goal was to create a film that would be enjoyed worldwide. Instead, it seems they aimed to deliver a deliberately silly story, hoping audiences would find it amusing enough. It’s common for directors, writers, actors, and other crew members to strive for a groundbreaking masterpiece—a film recognized as “remarkable cinema,” worthy of numerous awards. Thunder Force isn't intended for that kind of recognition; its purpose seems more aligned with earning nominations at the Razzies – something both Falcone and McCarthy have achieved in the past. While the actress consistently demonstrates her undeniable talent, which could be better utilized elsewhere (like in Can You Ever Forgive Me? or Bridesmaids), the writer-director continues to produce films that feel rather lackluster. To be completely upfront, the initial portion of Thunder Force is surprisingly agreeable. The setup for the main story is reasonably interesting, and the comedy reaches its peak during the first thirty minutes. However, this high point only provides a few occasional laughs. From the beginning of the second act until the end, Falcone disappointingly fails to generate genuine humor. The tone feels jarringly unbalanced; nearly every scene seems like an awkward attempt at being funny, even when it isn’t appropriate for the moment. Jokes that are both bland and occasionally unpleasant are repeated throughout the film, which extends its already lengthy running time. The superhero plot is as commonplace and predictable as a movie could be, considering it makes no effort to do anything different from what audiences have seen over the last couple of decades. The visual effects resemble those from an amateur studio, suggesting Netflix didn't prioritize its own product. Story-wise, there’s not even a proper way to analyze such a silly screenplay. At one point, it seems like the film is taking a scene seriously, but moments later, everything reverts to the annoyingly dumb atmosphere. While I appreciate absurd comedy, it needs to be done well, with appropriate talent and a suitable story. Ultimately, I typically try not to take films like this too seriously. Thunder Force simply joins the ever-growing list of “forgettable movies,” which isn’t particularly concerning. It delivers exactly what people expect it to, and that can be seen as a positive if viewers are looking for that kind of experience. What's most frustrating is seeing McCarthy and Octavia Spencer—two exceptional actresses with five combined Oscar nominations (including Spencer’s win for The Help)—working on projects as unpromising as this one. It raises the question: why? Thunder Force represents another instance of pointless, absurd storytelling from Ben Falcone, characterized by painfully dry humor and a forgettable plot. It fulfills every requirement for a Razzies contender, something familiar to the writer-director and his wife, Melissa McCarthy, who frequently do each other favors. Despite an admittedly decent start, the rest of the film declines in terms of entertainment value. I honestly don’t know what's worse: watching McCarthy and Spencer waste their considerable talent on nonsensical movies or seeing major studios continue to give opportunities to filmmakers with little meaningful insight while deserving voices remain waiting for a chance. The best thing I can say about this Netflix product is that it doesn't mislead anyone; it’s precisely what viewers anticipate, whether that’s good or bad. Rating: D

Source on TMDB