Forty years on from the release of the original series and Thunderbirds gets a live action make-over for the 21st century. Resolutely aimed towards younger viewers, the picture follows the International Rescue team and their crime fighting ways. One of the team's arch enemies, The Hood (Kingsley) manages to capture Jeff Tracy (Paxton) and his sons, disabling International Rescue in one foul swoop and then mounting a series of daring robberies. However, he overlooks the potential of Jeff Tracy's youngest son, Alan (Corbet), who desperately wants to prove himself to his old man, while his pals Fermat (Futon) and Tin-Tin (Hudgens) also have personal reasons for getting revenge on The Hood.
First, the good news - Thunderbirds the movie isn't quite as bad as it could have been. But then again, it isn't exactly what you'd call enjoyable either, if you are above the age of reason. Rarely extending itself beyond its pre-school demographic, Thunderbirds displays a frightening lack of ambition. Formerly of Star Trek, director Jonathan Frakes lays everything on too thick for his audience, pre-supposing that they are incapable of drawing anything resembling a conclusion for themselves, unless, of course, he spells it out. It's a major misstep and one feels that with a little more guidance and knowing humour, Thunderbirds could have been a memorable excursion rather than the vaguely tolerable one it is.