Struck by Lightning

Name: Struck by Lightning
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: January 11, 2013
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 41
Cast: Chris Colfer, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, Rebel Wilson

2013

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 12 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

See All

6.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.5	Your Score
6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Struck By Lightning

Now Playing: Struck By Lightning

Movie Details & Credits

Tribeca Film | Release Date: January 11, 2013 | Not Rated

Starring: Chris Colfer, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney, Rebel Wilson

Summary: High school senior Carson Phillips was destined for bigger things than his close-minded small town could ever offer. He was on a path to greatness, but destiny had a different plan when he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning in his school parking lot.
Demonstrating that life is what happens while you’re busy planning your future,High school senior Carson Phillips was destined for bigger things than his close-minded small town could ever offer. He was on a path to greatness, but destiny had a different plan when he was suddenly killed by a bolt of lightning in his school parking lot.
Demonstrating that life is what happens while you’re busy planning your future, Carson recounts the last few weeks of his life via witty, insightful flashbacks, including a blackmail scheme targeting the popular kids in school that he concocts with his best friend, and a home life that includes a mother who’s more interested in the bottle than her son’s future and an estranged father who suddenly appears with a pregnant fiancée. (Tribeca Film)… Expand

Director: Brian Dannelly

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 90 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Jan 9, 2013

Struck by Lightning sticks to generic character sketches of high school student types - the jock, the goth, the cheerleader, etc. - and gives Carson the best lines. In between, some charming, buzzy talents pitch in on this short little lark. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Jan 10, 2013

While the good outweigh the bad, it's a close race. But what is good, particularly a heartbreaking performance by Allison Janney, is really good, enough so that Colfer emerges as a talent worth watching on the page, not just on the screen. Read full review

Tasha Robinson

Jan 9, 2013

Lightning is a funny, fast-moving movie, packed with barbed one-liners, goofy hyperbole, and all the oversized exasperation of teen angst. But it's too acid, particularly where Colfer is concerned. Read full review

Brian Miller

Jan 8, 2013

Struck by Lightning means well, but its gentle dissection of high school cliques brings nothing new to the genre, except the fact that being out isn't the problem for the hero, Carson (Colfer). Read full review

Film.com Amanda Mae Meyncke

Feb 27, 2013

Struck by Lightning may appeal to fans of Colfer’s work on “Glee,” but as a film it’s utterly lacking in scope, depth or meaning beyond an immediate chuckle or two. Read full review

Stephen Holden

Jan 10, 2013

Except for Ms. Janney's monstrous mother and an Alzheimer's-afflicted grandmother (Polly Bergen), Struck by Lightning gives its characters no dimension. Read full review

Chris Cabin

Jan 8, 2013

A class-five pity party so unbearably condescending and unconvincing that it might just make you run out and buy an "I'm With Mitt" t-shirt, it makes an inadvertent but hugely compelling pro-bullying argument. Read full review

SEE ALL 12 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Venergroup

Feb 23, 2013

You can't help but like Chris Colfer as Carson Phillips. Great supporting cast. Kind of a dark theme, but it works. Very enjoyable. Saw it with my teenage daughter and she was nuts about the movie, she can't wait to get the DVD.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

beatleslove

Sep 5, 2013

I loved this movie. Great acting, great screenplay. This is Chris' first screenplay, and the wittiness and flow of the movie really surprised me. Everything was well thought out and entertaining. He is a pro already. I can't wait to see what he has in store for the years to come! Also,I loved this movie. Great acting, great screenplay. This is Chris' first screenplay, and the wittiness and flow of the movie really surprised me. Everything was well thought out and entertaining. He is a pro already. I can't wait to see what he has in store for the years to come! Also, having Rebel Wilson in any movie makes it worth watching!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

ryu9376

Feb 1, 2019

Damn... this movie was really, really good. Never heard of the young man Chris Colfer before now, but I'll be looking for him in future films... he was simply brilliant as hell in this film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

wiggipop

Mar 25, 2013

A strange sort of film. A smart, left-of-centre high school story like Detention, which, although not without it's own faults, was actually entertaining throughout. Instead, here we get earnestness, moralising and a quite underwhelming story with a surprisingly generous handful of cruelA strange sort of film. A smart, left-of-centre high school story like Detention, which, although not without it's own faults, was actually entertaining throughout. Instead, here we get earnestness, moralising and a quite underwhelming story with a surprisingly generous handful of cruel twists. Allison Janney is wonderful in quite a meaty role, and Rebel Wilson and Angela Kinsey add much needed spark and humour. I find it odd however that Chris Colfer would write himself a mostly unlikable role; pompous, arrogant, and dismissive of what he could learn from others. Is he supposed to be the hero? By the end, all I could muster was, "really?".… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SEE ALL 4 REVIEWS