Film Review: Struck By Lightning

By Manasa Davuluri on May 31, 2013

You may know Chris Colfer as the lovable Kurt from Glee, but it turns out that his talents extend beyond TV and singing. Colfer wrote and starred in the 2012 film Struck By Lightning, which depicts a high school student’s desperation to get out of his small town, get into Northwestern, and become a renowned journalist.

High school senior Carson Phillips (Colfer) puts up with a lot; his dad left 5 years ago and never reached out, his mother turned into an unstable emotional wreck, and his beloved grandmother suffers from Alzheimer’s and often forgets who he is. He also happens to be the school’s outcast, struggling to get any respect from the members of his newspaper editorial team, much less his peers. At the same time, he agonizes over his pending decision from Northwestern until he is inspired to create a literary magazine to set himself apart.

Everything changes when he and his friend Malerie (Rebel Wilson) begin finding dirt on various students, allowing them to successfully blackmail people into writing pieces for his new literary magazine. It’s self-serving, but he gleefully (see what I did there?) revels in his newfound power. One day at a board meeting with the principal and other club officers, he takes his enthusiasm a little too far by standing up for himself and causing the board to revoke certain privileges for the rest of the school, effectively gaining back the hatred of everyone else. Cue the rise and fall of Carson Phillips.

Colfer’s script is solid; it is both snarky and moving, and it’s able to keep from dragging for the most part. The ending is given away in the beginning, making the entire film a flashback account of Carson’s life before he literally gets struck by lightning. Although the protagonist is sympathetic at times, he is also quite abrasive, and his frequent lashing out against everyone often becomes tiresome. As the film carries on, it is clear that Carson’s acerbic demeanor is just a shield and is counteracted by the softer moments with his grandmother, but he is still unable to be fully redeemed from a somewhat insufferable personality.

A lot of familiar faces abound in the supporting cast including: Allison Janney and Dermot Mulroney as the parents, Christina Hendricks, Angela Kinsey from The Office, Sarah Hyland from Modern Family, and of course Rebel Wilson from Pitch Perfect. The acting is flawless, and no complaints can really be made in that department, but the high school students generally fail to develop beyond cliches or evoke much affection from the audience. Wilson, though, is a highlight as the quirky best friend in search of her own inspiration.

If you’re a fan of Colfer and are intrigued by his foray into writing, definitely check this film out. Although it falls flat on some points, namely its ability to garner sympathy for most of its characters, the sharpness of dialogue hints that Colfer’s writing talents will keep him afloat for years to come. He’s only 23, and he’s got so much time to hone his skills. He’s definitely one to watch.

 

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