Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Co-Op and weapon kit promotional image from Treyarch and Raven Studios

    Sharing Gunsmith Builds in Black Ops 7 Is About To Get Much Easier

    08/19/2025
    EA Sports Madden NFL 26 Head Coach But Why Tho 5

    Dear EA Sports, Why Can’t I Make A Hot Coach?

    08/14/2025
    Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5

    Blade Can Shut Down The Other Team In Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 If You Know How

    08/08/2025
    John Cena and Cody Rhodes during Summerslam 2025

    The SummerSlam 2025 Main Event Was A Fever Dream We All Needed

    08/08/2025
    Street Fighter 6 Sagat

    Sagat Brings Depth And Approachability To ‘Street Fighter 6’

    08/07/2025
  • Indie Games
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Apple TV+
But Why Tho?
Home » Film » REVIEW: ‘Thunder Force’ Fails Its Characters But Builds a Great World

REVIEW: ‘Thunder Force’ Fails Its Characters But Builds a Great World

Nicolas SotoBy Nicolas Soto04/15/20213 Mins Read
Thunder Force
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Thunder Force

Thunder Force, one of Netflix’s newest original films directed by Ben Falcone, debuted last week. The story follows two former best friends, Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) and Emily (Octavia Spencer). Lydia chose a more carefree lifestyle, while Emily focused her life’s work on creating a formula to give someone superpowers. After not seeing each other for many years, the two reunite and attempt to spark their friendship once again. However, Lydia accidentally comes into contact with the superhero formula. Emily begrudgingly decides to train Emily while also taking the formula as well. The two decide to form the Thunder Force and fight to save their city that has been taken over by supervillains. 

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The world-building elements throughout Thunder Force were done very well. From the movie’s start, audiences are told that all powered people are criminals and that villains have taken over cities. There are also no heroes to stop criminals from taking control and causing harm to civilians. This aspect of the world-building that the film does will be enough to capture audiences’ attention. It also sets up the dark tone that the film has at times, which was definitely a surprise. However, this world-building would have had a bigger effect on the film had this dark tone been kept throughout the entire movie. While the film’s genre easily falls under comedy, it’s hard to believe that the darker tone would not have also fit the world the story takes place in. 

Both McCarthy and Spencer have incredible chemistry in Thunder Force, but it isn’t enough to carry the movie forward. For one, the way that Lydia and Emily are characterized seems only to hit the basics of what the “best friends” in comedies should be. McCarthy seems to play the same character in every comedic role that she’s in, making her characters rather uninteresting. Spencer is given a character with determination, which will surely make audiences root for her. It’s almost a given, based on how the plot is set up, that both of them would reconcile by the end of the film. There wasn’t any suspense as to whether they would be friends or not. 

The comedic elements in Thunder Force hurt the film in various ways rather than support it. Most of the jokes and comedic moments rely on being vulgar. For instance, during Thunder Force’s first major outing as heroes, Lydia sparks a connection with The Crab (Jason Bateman). What comes next is an entire scene of Lydia fantasizing about The Crab in a way that will surely make audiences wonder what kind of movie they’re watching. There’s also another scene where Lydia complains about one of Emily’s employees; she goes on a rant and points out all of his flaws. So rather than making the jokes naturally funny, most of them focused on vulgar insults. 

Overall, Thunder Force failed to deliver in comedy and development of its main characters but delivered great world-building elements. However, the world-building wasn’t enough to carry this film forward, even though it set up the dark tone that should have had a bigger part in the story. This film had the potential to do so much but ultimately lacked any real impact. Perhaps making this film a limited series could have been a way to make it stand out more. 

Thunder Force is not streaming on Netflix.

Thunder Force
  • 6/10
    Rating - 6/10
6/10

TL;DR

Thunder Force failed to deliver in comedy and development of its main characters but delivered great world-building elements. However, the world-building wasn’t enough to carry this film forward, even though it set up the dark tone that should have had a bigger part in the story. This film had the potential to do so much but ultimately lacked any real impact. Perhaps making this film a limited series could have been a way to make it stand out more. 

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The House in Fata Morgana’ Is a Masterpiece in Visual Novels (Switch)
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Fruits Basket: The Final Season,’ Episode 2- “That’s an Unwavering Truth” 
Nicolas Soto

Nicolas is a pop culture critic, focusing primarily on film, tv. anime, and manga. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, which shapes the way he analyzes his work. Twitter and Instagram: @brainstormer609

Related Posts

Madelyn Cline and KJ Apa in The Map That Leads to You
8.0

REVIEW: ‘The Map That Leads To You’ Is YA Romance Done Right

08/19/2025
Lurker promotional still from MUBI
10.0

REVIEW: ‘Lurker’ Probes The Intoxication Of Fame

08/19/2025
The Knife (2025) promotional still
7.0

REVIEW: ‘The Knife’ Is Simple And Too Much At The Same Time

08/17/2025
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

08/16/2025
Fixed promotional key art from Netflix Animation
6.0

REVIEW: ‘Fixed’ Is Top-Notch Animation But Bottom Of The Barrel Comedy

08/15/2025
Denzel Washington Highest 2 Lowest
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Highest 2 Lowest’ Has A Ton Of Fun Missing It’s Own Points

08/15/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Still from Shin Godzilla
8.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘Shin Godzilla’ Is More Relevant Than Ever

By Sarah Musnicky08/16/2025Updated:08/17/2025

It is understandable how Shin Godzilla succeeded at the box office nearly a decade ago. The strength of its story still stands today.

Botanical Bliss Update Palia But Why Tho 5 News

Palia’s New Botanical Bliss Update Brings New Flora, Decorations, And Quest Mechanic

By Matt Donahue08/18/2025Updated:08/18/2025

The Botanical Bliss update adds new event, more plushes, and a host of quality-of-life improvements and more to celebrate 2 years of Palia.

BOOTS Netflix First Look promotional images News

First Look at Coming-of-Age Story BOOTS, Coming to Netflix This October

By But Why Tho?08/17/2025

Netflix is reporting for duty this fall with the new eight-episode series BOOTS, a comedic drama starring Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga

Nuestra Magia Secret Lair Art Interviews

EXCLUSIVE: How The ‘Nuestra Magia’ Secret Lair Found Its Identity And Raised Over $1M

By Kate Sánchez08/15/2025Updated:08/15/2025

We spoke with Ovidio Cartagena about Magic: The Gathering’s Nuestra Magia Secret Lair drop, its impact, and the real treasure within.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here