Thunderstruck (2004)

Thunderstruck: Directed by Darren Ashton. With Damon Gameau, Stephen Curry, Ryan Johnson, Callan Mulvey. After a near death experience, five Boys, all devoted AC/DC fans, make a pact to bury their best friend next to the grave of Bon Scott. 12 years later, having gone their different ways, they come together to fulfill the promise.

“OK, Iu0026#39;ll say up front that this movie features only 1 AC/DC song (the title track) in the very beginning. At the end thereu0026#39;s a good cover of u0026quot;Itu0026#39;s a Long Way to the Topu0026quot;, and somewhere in the middle is a bizarre country version of u0026quot;TNTu0026quot;. Hardcore fans might recognize a song by Fraternity, Bon Scottu0026#39;s band before he sang for AC/DC.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut this movie isnu0026#39;t really for hardcore AC/DC fans, itu0026#39;s for everyone. Rather than the music of AC/DC, it focuses on the mischief and mayhem caused by 4 loser friends in their late 20s, twelve years after their rocku0026#39;nu0026#39;roll dreams burned out.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s a road movie, meaning thereu0026#39;s not much of a plot other than a bunch of guys being on the road most of the time. Strange, almost random scenes happen along the way, and thatu0026#39;s what the fun is about.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMy favourite parts were: the creepy gas station guy and his u0026quot;surpriseu0026quot;, the crazed wheelchair rugby team, the Korean mafia (stick around after the credits), the argument over what letter should mark the spot (X?), and of course the two terminally stupid u0026quot;Beavis u0026amp; Buttheadu0026quot; fans who take the lyrics of u0026quot;Jailbreaku0026quot; too literally.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSome might say that this film has deeper themes about loyalty to friends and youth, and about staying true to dreams despite getting older. But nah, I just see it as a wacky road movie.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026quot;Thunderstrucku0026quot; is pretty tame, not too much swearing and only one sexual situation. There are some references to drug use and 1 gross-out scene involving drugs and a toilet (and other things that go in toilets). But other than that itu0026#39;s mostly family-friendly.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThree years after making u0026quot;Thunderstrucku0026quot;, director Darren Ashton would make u0026quot;Razzle Dazzle: A Journey into Danceu0026quot; which is my all-time fave Aussie comedy and one of the funniest comedies Iu0026#39;ve ever seen. For Ashton fans: these 2 movies are very different. While u0026quot;Razzle Dazzleu0026quot; has a cheeky Christopher-Guest-type of humour, u0026quot;Thunderstrucku0026quot; is more physical and in-your-face like maybe u0026quot;Wedding Crashersu0026quot;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOther similar Aussie comedies I recommend are Alex Proyasu0026#39;s u0026quot;Garage Daysu0026quot; about a struggling band trying to get their first big break, and u0026quot;The Wannabeesu0026quot; about a team of foul-mouthed crooks who somehow become the nationu0026#39;s most popular childrenu0026#39;s show. See them all and maybe youu0026#39;l agree, Aussie comedy rocks.”