Zoom Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
They're going to save the world . . . as long as they're home for dinner
Former superhero Jack Shepard, (also known as Captain Zoom), is called back to work to transform an unlikely group of ragtag kids into a new generation of superheroes at a privacy Academy and save the world from certain destruction. The project holds an audition of would-be members, most of whom possess useless or disgusting powers. In the end, Dylan, a 17-year-old boy who can turn invisible Summer, a 16-year-old girl with telekinetic powers Tucker, a 12-year-old boy with the power to enlarge any part of his body Cindy, a 6-year-old girl with super strength.
| Tim Allen | Jack Shepard, Captain Zoom |
| Courteney Cox | Marsha Holloway |
| Chevy Chase | Dr. Grant |
| Spencer Breslin | Tucker Willams, Mega-Boy |
| Kevin Zegers | Connor Shepard, Concussion |
| Kate Mara | Summer Jones, Wonder |
| Michael Cassidy | Dylan West, Houdini |
| Ryan Newman | Cindy Collins, Princess |
| Rip Torn | Larraby |
| Peter Hewitt |
3.20 out of 10 (5779 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Entertaining
posted on 29 Aug 2009If you like Galaxy Quest or Tim Allen humor in general, this film should entertain you. It's light and fun. Someone always dislikes offbeat films, but clearly more than enough did! This movie features kids with super powers that are forced into government training, under the reluctant direction of a grouchy Tim Allen (who once was "the" great superhero). Yes, think Galaxy Quest! In almost every film Tim Allen has ever made, he has a change of heart - is this one going to be different? The film is not intended to be serious. Still, it brings an interesting perspective to the down side of "being different". Common needs will help this very dysfunctional team bond. If you have a chance to read a spoiler - don't! An novel surprise you won't anticipate is near the end, which neatly wraps the entire movie's theme. I hope there is a sequel in the works...
The film for Sky High dropouts
posted on 21 Aug 2009This move can only have been a product of laziness. The plot is a pastiche of clichés, which is bad enough, but the script writing doesn't even try to develop any of them into a coherent storyline. We have a group of kids, who are "outcasts", "weird", etc. who must learn to work as a team. Oh, and they have super powers. And they will be lead by a washed up former super hero who's lost his powers and is disillusioned and bitter. But somehow, they'll bring it all together and vanquish the villain. Any of this sound familiar? A collection of tired plot devices can be made fresh with good writing, but it's not in this movie. Stale story and flat writing can be compensated for by good direction, but not in this movie. Sometimes it's worth it to see talented actors doing their best with little to work with, but not in - you see where I'm going with this? The cast is a group of talented people whose talents are never called upon. If you have small children and a slow afternoon, it's worth a rental. But not more than a $2.50 rental. Any more, and you're wasting your money.
A peek into our own psychosis
posted on 19 Aug 2009Zoom assembles a wonderful cast of actors (such as Joshua Bozin and Ridge Canipe) that brings a rich and colorful rendition of the worn out plot of a superhero dad that is overly protected of a daughter going through puberty.The premise of the movie is very similar to Sky High, which I really enjoyed, but brought a fresh new look to an otherwise excessively used superhero plot. It is the inordinate, sometimes simplified, theme of "Dad protect daughter and fight evil" that brings an immediate familiarity to the characters, similar to an unwelcome stay from a spouse's relative.Allen, who plays the superhero father, brings his mentally challenged daughter, played by Mara, to a new school that caters to kids with special talents. I believe the social development of having a wide range of personality disordered kids together to accomplish a specific purpose helps the adult viewers want to believe and understand each of the characters.This is especially true when the villain, that represents the evil embodied in all of the wars and genocides, is first introduced into the movie. As the twisted plot unfolds around the villain one can personify this villain as all of the bad events that have occurred in our lives. But what is so wonderful about this movie is that it teaches us, in some small insignificant way, how to redirect this anger into something positive.Of course as the special needs kids (recently embolden on their journey to fight all that is wrong in this world), representing the natural good embodied in moms and twinkies, face this evil, all the audience emotions that tend to be inhibited by societal pressures and small cubicles are released in bits of vocal approbation that really don't end until the ending credits arrive.Forgetting the fact that Fox actually sued Sony for copyright infringement and unfair competition, this should not deter anyone who is interested in understanding the old "good vs evil" theme and dealing with their own innermost demons. In fact one should willfully relinquish the ticket price to enjoy the variety of emotional torrents that Zoom will illicit. You won't be disappointed.I recommend this movie for kids of all ages (1-100) but I caution those who tend suffer from narcissism and multiple personalities that this movie will cause one to meet the person they don't know, themselves.
Overused Disney superhero formula killed off by bland ZOOM.
posted on 13 Aug 2009My Take: A positively dull family comedy with one pathetic excuse for comedy after another. Not tired by the success of THE INCREDIBLES and SKY HIGH, Disney reuses the tired "average-ordinary everyday superheroes" formula once more, this time one time too many. Finally overusing it to the death, Disney's ZOOM is bland, unfunny and totally juvenile excuse for family entertainment which may find audiences in the younger set, but will totally annoy anyone above the age line of ages 1-6. While the presence of Tim Allen and his sarcastic bite of humor lightens things up, the product itself is light enough with a completely empty script, free from any funny or original ideas. It... was just pathetic.Allen plays a retired superhero who is recalled by his associates, a clumsy scientist played by a wasted Chevy Chase, to train a couple of newbie superheroes, including ones that disappears in thin air (Dylan West, played by Michael Cassidy), who can control objects at will (Summer Jones, played by Kate Mara), who can inflate himself to the size of hot-air balloon (Tucker Williams, played by Spencer Breslin) and a little girl with the strength of The Hulk (Cindy Collins, played by Ryan Newman), and you won't like her when she's angry too (as a matter of fact, I didn't like her... at all). First of all, he has to cope with their irregularities and life problems to training them with the use of their powers. But that hardly passes as a screenplay, as the movie not doesn't have any big laughs, but the story and characters are as empty as the entire exhausted enterprise. Allen can do funny, but he's as tired as anyone else in this fabricated mess.If their not tired, their embarrassing, which is twice as worse. Need I mention Courtney Cox in such an embarrassing performance? Need I mention Chevy Chase in a waste role that can be played by anyone... even your grandpa? Or what about that annoying little girl, whom the writers call "cute". How does any money-hungry exec at work in this claptrap expect the audience to buy into some theatrical film that would run fine in local cable for cheaper effect. Director Pete Hewitt (director of the similarly dull GARFIELD) seems more suited to local cable, as his project just yells out "made for TV" all over. The special effects are not at aplenty, but still awful in every sense. The acting is extremely feeble, but who could blame 'em? The script isn't exactly working class material! On top of it all, it all comes down to the energy. There's no energy, no fun at all to be had in ZOOM, at least not to any older audience. Kids, as usual, will find ZOOM quite a treat. Adults will be forced to find a liking for counting grain when forced to watch this. Don't take the risk! Rating: * out of 5.
Great family film
posted on 10 Jul 2009I had my doubt about Tim Allen in this one but he pulled it off,again. Now i can't wait for the Santa clause 3 to come out. the chemistry between Allen and the children was remarkable.Between the teen romance the plot,and the superpower plot and the fallen hero Concussion the movie has something for all ages. See this movie you'll love it it's classic Allen. That means always funny and lovable and sincere.Tim's classic humor shines in this film and will make you wan to get all seasons of home improvement on DVD.lol. The little girl and finally a good Courteney Cox Arquettecharactor on the big screen was most surprising of all. loved it!!!
It's Horrible!!!
posted on 22 Jun 2009There was a large plot hole, when Zoom breaks the kids out of their rooms to protect them from being radiated with Gamma 13. He tells them to stay out of sight. The next time we see the group they have been caught in the conference room. Yeah! I go hang out in the conference room when told by an adult to stay out of sight. This is just the tip of the iceberg. The kids and Miss Cox acting was very fake. Cox seemed to be like plastic. The dumb superpowers they gave these kids the military would be better off without them. Tucker was the worse a boy who is fat and could make himself fatter??? Very insulting. This was a knock off of Skyhigh but it came out over a year later. And even Skyhigh didn't do too well. I also see elements of X-Men, Fantastic 4, and Men in Black. Several scenes seemed to have no point other than slapstick comedy. The plot needed more depth.
The old superhero trains new young superheros
posted on 18 Jun 2009I think that it did take the ideas from other superhero movies but it had a cool story and it was a really good kids movie. Who cares if they took ideas from other movies everyone is doing that kids are not going to notice. So yeah in other words just watch it and watch the kids laugh not all the movie had parts taken from other movies there were lots that are original. And the actors were really good at the parts they did. You need to think how hard it would be to make a superhero movie original because all the ideas were taken already. I always thought that all the movies combined into one would make a really cool movie. Now they have done that.
Nice Movie
posted on 23 May 2009I really enjoyed the this movie. I want to see a sequel of this movie. I really enjoyed the plot and the climax of this movie especially when Zoom's brother was evil then changed into good after zoom collapse the vortex.I also enjoyed watching the four children. Princess which had incredible strength. Spencer Breslin whom plays the boy that could expand his body. Dylan West / Houdini whom can disappear. Summer Jones / Wonder is a teenage girl who had telekinesis. Jack Shepard / Captain Zoom who was the teacher and brought these students together also Captain Zoom started to care for the kids when he found out what the Larraby was planning to with the children.
This is an awesome, fun family movie!
posted on 11 May 2009This is an awesome, fun family movie. We need more movies that are a great message for kids and fun to watch. How exciting it is for kids to see the real kids become super heroes. We all love super heroes and this movie is done with a wholesome and enjoyable approach. Kids can leave the movie with a good feeling about themselves. Even superheros are not perfect, but that doesn't keep them from being great, just like our kids! Too bad more adults don't see the value in good movies for their kids and the whole family, rather than expecting kids movies to be full of adult content that distorts great messages like the one this movie leaves everyone with. Thanks for a great family movie!
wonderful movie!
posted on 09 May 2009I loved this movie! It's about time that movies start having good messages for children. This one did! I love Tim Allen, and Courtney Cox is wonderful too. If you don't like Tim Allen, then don't even bother, you won't like the film, like I won't go see any sort of Will Ferrell film...it's the same principle. If superhero movies aren't your bag, then don't bother either. But I love both and loved the movie. I went and saw this at a matinée and everyone there seemed to be enjoying themselves. True, you won't grow any brain cells, but since when did going to a simple movie have to be such a cerebral experience? Just sit back and enjoy yourself!
Hey, what's wrong with fun?
posted on 21 Apr 2009AFter looking over the general critics' review ratings and then the user ratings, my wife and I were reluctant to gamble our once-a-week-away-from-the kids night out on Zoom. In fact, a lot of people must have felt the same way as we were the only 2 people in the theater. But we gave it a chance because we thought it might be a good way to get a few laughs and relax. Yes, the plot is very simple and predictable, the humor adolescent and sometimes rather crude (although I can easily imagine people actually USING the jokes in everyday life which is not always true), and it is highly unlikely to win (or be nominated for) any Oscars. But it moved along, I cared about the characters, and I felt that it really WAS a family-of-sorts in the process of uniting. I don't disagree with the comments posted by others about its general flaws -- but they didn't bother me much. We had fun, we laughed (I even cried a little one spot), we even got surprised once (but only once -- smile), and my wife has said that she'd like to see it again. She doesn't say that about many films. In a world where the news is dominated by war, terrorists, and politicians who cannot seem to be bothered to do the job for which they have been elected, sometimes it's just good to have fun.
This is a nice movie
posted on 26 Feb 2009that it is a nice movie - the kind that makes you relax and smile. And for that along, it is worth to watching. The movie was made as a fairytale and should on my opinion be judged as such. We do not see a lot of films like that - films that we can enjoy without thinking about the complex relations between the characters and with out questionable ending .When this film ends you can know it is the end of it. In short the movie is simple but in a good way. I enjoyed it and I'm shore most of the people who enjoy reading comics books will.It is a film about super heroes kids. All of the characters are unique and special and funny. All the actors playing very funny and doing a lot of great mimic. The movie contains special effects are just enough to enjoy them. In short it is a nice movie, it is definitely stands out.
Low expectations yield high returns
posted on 18 Feb 2009I have just viewed this film for the first time. I made the mistake of avoiding it in the past because of the low rating by IMDb members. It certainly does not rate a "10" but "1" is just as ludicrous. For fans of the superhero/fantasy genre, this film is entertaining. Lots of good special effects and lots of fun. Sure, there are clichés, but then that is generally expected in this genre. Perhaps I enjoyed it more because the "3" rating on IMDb caused me to have such low expectations. It is clearly a better film than the rating implies, and nearly 2000 IMDb members have done a disservice with their votes of 10 or 1. It's not quite up to "Sky High" but it was a lot of fun.
What can I say, it sucked!
posted on 31 Jan 2009I seriously had a bad feeling when I hurried to get out of the video store that I had to do a wise pick on a kiddie like movie. I thought when I first rented this movie it would be pretty good and funny since Tim Allen was acting in it. But what can I say when I started watching it, it was to do with four kid super heroes and their leader Zoom from a comic book came to life in such a crude humoured film! I mean I need to say they introduced the characters like the four kids which was a little six year old girl who could lift up to ten pounds of weight, a fat chubby boy who can make his body go even fatter and bigger and can squash anyone in his way, a teenage girl who has the power to stare and control any like object or thing with her eyes and a boy who could turn invisible and use his mind to see things from a far distance. The only thing I liked about this movie was just about the end of the film, where there was quite a impressive battle with Jack's evil brother Conner and he finally showed off his zooming power to plan on making his brother part of his family again. But trust me I'll warn any viewer if you really want to see this movie you likely only need to see it once or even half of it since it's like the worst movie ever created in the history of the universe! Period!
not bad
posted on 31 Jan 2009I don't think this movie deserves the bashing its been taking. Despite the obvious flaws it was still a fun movie. Not one that i would pay to see but it got the job done and gave me a few laughs and kept me occupied for a bit, if your looking to just to be entertained a little bit i think it would be a good choice. I am glad i didn't pay for it though. My only real complaint was Cortney Cox, she's horrible but somehow keeps getting jobs, go figure oh yeah and Chevy Chase needed to retire after Vegas vacation. But beside that everybody else did a fairly good job. Tim Allen was good, and considering the circumstances id have to say the kids were pretty good as well. All said it was a good movie
Too Much Like "Sky High"
posted on 25 Jan 2009This studio needs to admit it. They got this idea from Disney's "Sky High" with Kurt Russell. They had to have done so, because the premise of the two movies is almost entirely the same. The only difference is Tim Allen tried to star in this version and Kurt Russell tries to star in "Sky High." After watching this film (and it was painstakingly hard), I tried to remember why I watched it. I don't regret that I did. But it is an hour and a half I can't get back.Rip Torn playing the general was probably the best part of this movie, and thats not saying much. Courteney Cox part in this movie made her into a real geeky girl who is infatuated with Allen's character.After much consideration, I had to give this film a 4.
The best movie of all time
posted on 05 Jan 2009Zoom will not only be remembered with such masterpieces as Ishtar, Howard the Duck and Gigli, but also as one of the most excellent movies of all time. Just like X-Men and Sky High to Spy Kids and Fantastic 4, on and on, all these movies were great. And all of it works! The most interesting anomaly is that finally there's a movie with Chevy Chase where the material is better than he is. (Chevy, all of your movies were awesome, your career consists of mostly excellence.) The script is phenomenal, as were the actors. Howard the Duck and Ishtar, Great as they were, were outrageously funny and witty. Zoom is recycled, which is very cool and it's just another great film that Hollywood is renowned for.
Not a bad kid's movie, but Chevy Chase almost ruined it
posted on 05 Jan 2009This was obviously a kid's movie, so previous comments about how bad it is are out of line. Every movie borrows plot elements from other movies, that's how movies are made. The plot was actually entertaining, even for an adult, and most of it was quite unique. Bringing disaffected kids with superpowers together as the only chance to defeat a returning superhero gone bad has not been tried before as far as I know. And I think a rather good job was done to chronicle the progress of the group from alienated individuals to a working team, along with cute tidbits of comedy and a developing romance between the superhero who lost his powers and the hidden talent.I actually thought Tim Allen was one of the better actors in this movie, living up to his own normal high standards. Courtney Cox delivered a cute character as the romantic interest that fit the plot. The kids all did their part in a believable manner, especially the little girl. The fat boy was obviously a stuffed costume, they could have done a lot better with that.However, Chevy Chase nearly ruined the movie all on his own. He looked like a dying man in the movie, so fat he looked like a stuffed sausage, and pale as a corpse to boot. You'd think they could have applied enough makeup so that he didn't look so sickly. His acting and delivery was zombie-like, his lines were stupid, it appeared as though the writers allowed him to insert his own take at times, and it was awful. I don't know what he was doing in this movie, but he is clearly washed up. He wasn't even a shell of his former self. He appeared to be muddled and dazed through the entire movie, the best thing he could come up with was "we love to poo in our pants' in the outtakes? I feel really sorry for Chevy that he has sunk to this, but he should bow out gracefully. I've loved virtually everything he's done, but this almost undoes all the good karma. Someone please put him out to pasture.
Important film
posted on 30 Dec 2008Zoom is one of the most beautifully acted films that I have seen in recent years. The Performances by Tim Allen and Courtney Cox are spectacular. While Cox plays the stand out role of a mother/wife, who has slowly and methodically grown distant and quite mad over the years of their marriage, I believe that Allen's performance is just as impressive and equally mad. In dealing with a wife who is as immature as his own children, Allen is reduced to dealing with her in extreme and embarrassing ways.The tension begins when Captain Zoom, played by Allen brings his co-workers back to his house in the morning after a long night shift, which probably was not the smartest idea because he had broken a long standing date with his wife the previous night. I suppose he brought them back for his own protection, thinking that maybe the presence of other might help to suppress an incident with his wife. Her bazaar awkward interactions build until Captain Zoom has to yell at Marsha (Cox). From there it only gets worse. Marsha's fickle and fragile mental state makes for a strange situation for her children. After practically kicking them out of the house in the morning, a few minutes later, she is begging for their presence once again. She waits in frantic anticipation for the bus to arrive and collects her children at the foot of the bus like a mother has not seen her kids for years. The way in which she acts towards the father of her children's play date is that of a twelve year old. The father does not seem comfortable at with leaving his children with a woman who he thought to be drunk, but later finds out just to be mad. After he tells her so, her demeanor immediately changes once again and she has a look of shame, like a child who has just been scorned by a disappointed parent. Allen arrives in a fit of rage that seems a bit over the top. He strikes her and it is in this scene that one realizes the exhausting effects that his wife's strange behavior has on him. It drives him to lash out and act in equally irrational ways. His patience is constantly being tested.This is a common theme throughout the movie. It seems that every family member seems to have the right idea of how to fix this family and is not afraid to voice their opinion. Captain Zoom's mother is one such character. One of the final scenes is when the family is gathered around the dinner table after Marsha's return from the hospital. Captain Zoom's mother and other family members refuse to accept Marsha's request to be alone with her immediate family thinking that the best thing for her is to have people around. This ends badly and Marsha is almost forced into a type of relapse. Captain Zoom is constantly trying to keep a dictatorial control over his family no matter what the cost - understandably so, as he has been pushed to this point psychologically and physically as he strikes Marsha into sanity once again.The movie is a strange demonstration of family life. I think it's extremes are meant to display that all families have their problems and deal with them under their own circumstances. Is it right for others to intervene? Who makes that decision? The voyeuristic quality in which the film was shot also incites a feeling of guilt in the audience for witnessing such atrocities and also instills a feeling that they are a present member of the family and a first hand witness to the troubles that they are experiencing. The movie was enrapturing from beginning to end.
Wonderful Family movie
posted on 31 Aug 2009Thos is an excellent movie the whole family can sit down and watch. If expecting a complex thinking storyline you should not watch this movie. Just enjoy the movie for its simplicity when so many movies now have so much going on and so many separate story lines that nothing ever gets concluded. There are many funny points which keep the movie from getting serious and allow for an enjoyable experience. I saw this on a movie channel and found it to be morally sound without rude or vulgar language. That alone is difficult to find. Because of that and and how enjoyable the movie is I'm going to buy it for my niece and nephews. Watch this for pure entertainment.