Rated: M
Directed and Created by: Jim Cummings
Based on the Short Film: ‘Thunder Road’ (2016)
Produced by: Natalie Metzger, Zack Parker, Benjamin Wiessner
Starring: Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr, Nican Robinson, Macon Blair, Jocelyn DeBoer, Chelsea Edmunson Ammie Leonards and Bill Wise.
Thunder Road, named after the Bruce Springsteen song, is a character-driven film about a dishevelled cop (with mustache) falling apart.
Officer Jim Arnaud is an awkward guy, especially around normal people, like sitting around the dinner table with the family of his partner, Officer Nate Lewis (Nican Robinson), telling embarrassing stories without realising he shouldn’t be telling his partner’s family about his miscalculations; he doesn’t act any more normal at his mother’s funeral, or at parent-teacher meetings about his daughter, Crystal (Kendal Farr).
It’s in these awkward moments we get to know Jim, as he gives a eulogy at his mother’s funeral, about how she donated money so the nasty Down Syndrome girl at his school could play safely, like the other kids. The nasty girl was a biter, you see. And may not have had Down Syndrome.
Thunder Road isn’t a flashy film – there’s nothing clever about the camera shots or setting. This is all about the script and delivery from director, writer and star Jim Cummings.
The facial expressions of this guy are hilarious. Seeing those waves of emotion take over his face, then to see him pull it together only to lose it again. It’s seeing this super-nice guy, doing his absolute best in the worst of circumstances, then just lose his grip that tickles: standing, about to throw a child’s school desk, the teacher subtly pocketing the school safety-scissors included.
His mother is dead, his siblings don’t show at the funeral, his wife has left him, his daughter can’t stand him and is acting out, making statements like, ‘I hope I get mum’s boobs.’ And his job as a cop is emotionally draining and stressful.
His life is eating him alive.
But Jim continues to try to do the right thing only to end up with ripped pants.
Don’t get me wrong, the humour here is subtle – like the way Jim is described, ‘Everyone grieves differently. Everyone’s unique.’
You can just see it – how the nice people describe someone losing the plot at a funeral.
I’m still giggling.
Yet there’s a real sweet, heart-warmer here as well. A dad doing his absolute best for his kid. And seeing a friend helping out a buddy who just can’t get it right warms the cockles.
A refreshing take on how life just is sometimes with an extraordinary script serving up the heart of a character with perfect delivery: pure gold.