Struck by Lightning (2012)

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (6) | Rotten (19)

Colfer is still very young, but he needs to learn that "snide" is not a point of view.

January 11, 2013 Full Review

Stephen Whitty

Newark Star-Ledger

Top Critic

Ultimately, it all portends a much brighter future for Colfer than for Carson.

January 11, 2013 Full Review

Sara Stewart

New York Post

Top Critic

If only "Struck by Lightning" had a sharper, stronger perspective, it might have made more of its conceit.

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Mark Olsen

Los Angeles Times

Top Critic

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

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Stephen Holden

New York Times

Top Critic

There isn't much to say about Struck by Lightning, except that it's one of those interchangeable teen movies that lands in theaters in early January, the morgue for films nobody knows what to do with.

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Ella Taylor

NPR

Top Critic

In his screenwriting debut, Glee's gifted Chris Colfer, 22, proves he can lace a line with sass and soul.

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

The main character is more off-putting than endearing.

January 14, 2013 Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue.com

Edgy high school comedy from Glee star has some iffy stuff

January 11, 2013 Full Review

Sandie Angulo Chen

Common Sense Media

Struck By Lightning possesses a jarring mixture of tones, with moments of dark comedy sitting somewhat uneasily alongside scenes of quiet domestic drama.

January 11, 2013 Full Review

Ethan Alter

Television Without Pity

It's not exactly ambitious, but Struck by Lightning is a noble failure, with individual elements more interesting than the strangled, distracted whole.

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Brian Orndorf

Blu-ray.com

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.

January 10, 2013 Full Review

Tasha Robinson

AV Club

"Glee" favorite Chris Colfer wrote and stars in this particularly self-serving vehicle, the narcissism of which impedes the fun.

January 9, 2013 Full Review

David Noh

Film Journal International

A decidedly uncertain step into feature films from an actor with a long career ahead of him.

January 9, 2013 Full Review

Marc Mohan

Oregonian

Colfer here is aggressively smart and unrelentingly snarky. ... It's a smart move on his part ... showcasing his potential range as an actor and as a writer.

January 7, 2013 Full Review

Annlee Ellingson

Paste Magazine

• 1. Grandma: Sometimes a personal rain cloud, can be deadly.
  – Submitted by Kristy L (4 months ago)
• 1. Malerie Baggs: Carson, Are we friends?
  2. Carson Phillips: I think we're best friends, Malerie.
  3. Malerie Baggs: Cool.
  – Submitted by Tim L (4 months ago)
• 1. Claire Mathews: Oh Carson, you always thought you were so much better than us because we all couldn't stand you but get ready for pure hatred coming your way because as soon as the rest of the school finds out about this and they tell their parents, the entire town will actually hate you!
  2. Carson Phillips: ALRIGHT, ENOUGH! ALRIGHT!? I didn't just stand up for myself in there, I was standing up for all of you! The minute you guys walked onto this campus, you were labelled as high school royalty and you would rather maintain that label then heaven forbid stand up for yourselves! But high school ends! And for your sakes, I hope you guys aren't the walking cliches everyone thinks you are 'cause life is going to walk all over you - it's going to bite you in the ass!
  – Submitted by B A (4 months ago)
• 1. April: Your dad tells me you're quite popular at school.
  – Submitted by Chris P (4 months ago)
• 1. Carson Phillips: Why is it that some people are selfish by nature and others have to be selfish just to survive?
  – Submitted by Arri M (4 months ago)
• 1. Carson Phillips: And then it suddenly came to me. I had one more story to add.
  – Submitted by Tim L (4 months ago)

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