Barnes & Noble

Full disclosure: The notion of a live-action movie based on the 1960s British kids' show Thunderbirds seemed desperately bad at first, perhaps because we were still unclear on the distinction between marionettes and the “supermarionettes” that producer Gerry Anderson employed in his various adventure series. The mental image of class acts Bill Paxton and Anthony Edwards going all herky-jerky in service of their no-doubt-significant financial obligations just turned one’s stomach. The gastric upset seems to have been widespread, as Thunderbirds tanked in the theaters and drew mixed reviews, at best. The film, though, deserves much better: Spectacularly produced, it is every bit as entertaining as the Spy Kids movies and targeted to the same audience. At the story’s center is the Tracy family, headed by single dad Jeff (Paxton), a former astronaut who leads an international rescue operation from his island paradise -- jetting out with his four sons in way-ahead-of-the-curve craft to all manner of disasters. But when the evil Hood (Sir Ben Kingsley) and his henchman hijack the island after stranding Tracy and his boys in space, the only one who can save the day is Alan Tracy (Brady Corbet), the youngest son, who demonstrates throughout the film that he’s not quite up to the task, yet. Fortunately, he’s teamed with his nerdy pal Fermat (Soren Fulton) and the lovely young Tin-Tin (Vanessa Ann Hudgens), a Tracy employee who -- like her uncle, the Hood (don’t ask) -- demonstrates a knack for telekinesis. While the three kids attempt an end run to reclaim the island, Tracy family friend and femme fatale Lady Penelope (Sophia Myles) and her chauffer/pilot/manservant, Parker (Ron Cook), try a frontal assault, but they all wind up in the walk-in freezer. It’s standard adventure fare, and the outcome’s never in doubt, but getting there is often quite fun, especially when Lady P and Parker grace the screen, zipping about in a stretch Ford Thunderbird convertible that turns into a jet or speedboat as necessity demands. As for Anthony Edwards…well, he’s a great sport, portraying Brain, the speech-impeded genius behind the Tracy’s toys, who also happens to be Fermat’s dad. Director Jonathan Frakes, Riker from Star Trek: The Next Generation, moves the film along at a crisp enough pace to keep kids riveted, draws suitably earnest performances from his actors, and elicits some tongue-in-cheek laughs. It would be a shame if the disappointing returns on this creative investment failed to yield further films, because this is decent family fun and a franchise that’s ripe for more ambitious story lines. Greg Fagan

Barnes & Noble

There's this nice moment near the beginning of Thunderbirds in which the gleefully evil mastermind, the Hood (Ben Kinglsey), uses his superior, telepathic mind to bend another character to his will: "Like a puppet on a string," the Hood laughs. If only! This wholly inexplicable live-action film is based on Gerry Anderson's 1960s-vintage "Super-Marionation" series. This is Thunderbirds in name only, with no strings attached. The result more closely resembles Spy Kids, or in this case, "Rescue Kids," as a plucky, pre-teen trio with much to prove races against time to save the members of International Rescue, whom the Hood has marooned in space. The idea is to leave them up there and then employ the squad's space-age Thunderbirds rescue craft to rob the world's biggest banks. Bill Paxton stars as billionaire Jeff Tracy, who, from his remote island, heads International Rescue with four of his sons. Brady Corbet costars as Alan, the fifth and youngest son, who resents being left behind while his older brothers are dispatched around the world whenever trouble strikes. Joining budding hero Alan are his geeky, bespectacled best friend, Fermat, and TinTin, a girl with a surprising connection to the Hood. As in the TV series, the movie gets a big kick from the formidable, pretty-in-pink Lady Penelope (Sophia Myles), the Tracys' go-to girl on the ground. Ben Kingsley is a hoot as the Hood, who has a score to settle with Tracy and insidiously fiddles with Alan's loyalties. Fans of Spy Kids and Agent Cody Banks will find the PG-rated Thunderbirds a definite "go!" Donald Liebenson

All Movie Guide

Directed by Jonathan Frakes and based on the '60s British television series of the same name, Thunderbirds chronicles the intergalactic exploits of the Tracy family. Set in 2010, the world looks toward the mysterious Tracy Island when mere international security is not enough; the remote South Pacific island not only houses former astronaut and lifelong entrepreneur Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton) and his five sons, but also serves as headquarters for the top-secret International Rescue organization. The unthinkable happens, however, when an insidious criminal mastermind known only as "The Hood" (Ben Kingsley) manages to get past the island's innumerable security measures and attempts to take over International Rescue. His goal: stealing the organization's five most advanced rescue vehicles, each of which was designed to accomplish a specific task, and using them for his own agenda. With Jeff and his four eldest sons deployed on a mission, there's only one person with any hope of stopping the takeover -- Jeff's youngest son, Alan (Brady Corbet), who vows to save his family and keep the Thunderbirds alive. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

Boston Globe

When all is said and done, the movie's a steaming plate of corn -- and, indeed, that's part of the pleasure. [Sophia] Myles, though, delivers a fine comic performance with no strings attached. Ty Burr

San Francisco Chronicle

A fun afternoon for preteen moviegoers that has just enough charm, humor and game- for-anything actors to keep parents halfway interested as well. Peter Hartlaub

Dallas Observer

This special-effects-crammed action blockbuster is not rocket science. It's more like rocket fun. Bill Gallo

Product Details

• UPC: 025192384424
• Source: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Editions: Subtitled, Dubbed
• Time: 1:35:00
• Sales Rank: 7,363

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Family Fun - Quadruple Feature

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