| Zoom | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Hewitt |
| Screenplay by | |
| Story by | Adam Rifkin |
| Based on | Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | David Tattersall |
| Edited by | Lawrence Jordan |
| Music by | Christophe Beck |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 88 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $75.6 million[2] |
| Box office | $12.5 million[3] |
Zoom (also known asZoom: Academy for Superheroes) is a 2006 Americansuperherocomedy film directed byPeter Hewitt and written byAdam Rifkin andDavid Berenbaum. Based upon the children's bookAmazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe,[4] the film starsTim Allen,Courteney Cox,Chevy Chase,Spencer Breslin, andRip Torn. It features a former superhero who is dragged into training four superpowered youths to become superheroes and combat an approaching threat.
Released theatrically on August 11, 2006 byColumbia Pictures, the film was panned by critics and it was abox office bomb, earning just $12.5 million on a $75.6 million budget.Zoom was nominated for oneRazzie Award,Worst Actor for Tim Allen (who was also nominated forThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause andThe Shaggy Dog), but he lost toMarlon andShawn Wayans forLittle Man (also produced byColumbia Pictures andRevolution Studios).
Thirty years prior, Team Zenith, led by the Shepard brothers Jack / "Captain Zoom" and Connor / "Concussion", fought to protect the world from various threats until the U.S. military used experimental "Gamma-13" radiation to enhance the Shepards' powers. Zoom became faster and stronger, but Concussion suffered apsychotic break and killed his teammates. Zoom seemingly killed Concussion in turn via a vortex but lost his powers.
At present, original Zenith Project scientist Dr. Ed Grant discovers Concussion was trapped in adimensional rift and is returning to Earth. Zenith military officer General Larraby commissions the formation of a new Team Zenith, recruiting a reluctant Zoom as an instructor and Marsha Holloway, a clumsypsychologist and a fan of the original Team Zenith's comic books.
Following a round of auditions, the Zenith Project recruits teenagers Dylan West and Summer Jones and children Tucker Williams and Cindy Collins, who possessinvisibility, psionic powers, self-inflation, andsuper-strength respectively. Over the course of the team's training, Marsha and the recruits become disappointed by Zoom's bitter and sarcastic personality, Dylan mounts failed escape attempts, and Tucker struggles with self-esteem issues and controlling his powers. After the team confronts Zoom over his failings, they reconcile and slowly improve their abilities.
Hours before Concussion's return, Zoom helps Dylan unlock a new ability dubbed "mindsight", which he uses to pinpoint where Concussion will emerge and learn the military intends to expose the new Team Zenith to Gamma-13 and use them as a distraction so they can test new weaponry on Concussion. A horrified Zoom asks Marsha to help him rescue the children and travel to Concussion's location, during which she reveals her ability to produce a super-breath. Upon arriving, Zoom resolves to face Concussion alone, but Marsha and Team Zenith refuse to abandon him.
When Concussion returns, Larraby fires a neutralizing net at him, but the former blasts it away towards Cindy. Fearing for her safety, Zoom's powers return, allowing him to save her before he uses his speed and Gamma-13 to recreate the vortex while Team Zenith and Marsha guide Concussion into it. After Grant reveals he can save Concussion, Zoom closes the vortex, with the subsequent energy vacuum draining the Shepards' Gamma-13, restoring their original powers and curing Concussion.
Three months later, Team Zenith has returned to their normal lives while continuing to work with Zoom.
In June 2003, Revolution Studios acquired the rights toZoom's Academy for the Super Gifted by former Disney/Warner Bros. animator Jason Lethcoe.[5] Peter Hewitt became attached as director in September 2004.[6]
Tim Allen helped write the initial script, saying "It was very different in script form, much darker than when it came out, and what the studio and powers that be decided to make it into a family movie; It was a neat idea of what superheroes are really capable of doing."[7]
Zoom was shot inHamilton, Ontario,Canada.[8][better source needed]
Zoom was theatrically released on August 11, 2006, byColumbia Pictures.
Zoom was released on DVD on February 13, 2007, bySony Pictures Home Entertainment under the nameZoom: Academy for Superheroes.[citation needed]
Zoom opened in 2,501 theaters on August 11, 2006, and earned $4.5 million in its opening weekend ranking number nine at the domestic box office. At the end of its run, on September 17, the film had grossed $12 million in the United States and Canada and $516,860 internationally for a worldwide total of $12.5 million.[3]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 4% based on 68 reviews and an average rating of 3.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Lacking the punch and good cheer ofThe Incredibles andSky High,Zoom is a dull and laugh-free affair."[9] OnMetacritic, the film has a score of 26 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[10] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[11]
Zoom was nominated for oneRazzie Award,Worst Actor forTim Allen (also nominated forThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause andThe Shaggy Dog), but he lost to the Wayans brothersMarlon andShawn Wayans forLittle Man.[citation needed]
| Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Razzie Award | Worst Actor | Tim Allen (Also forThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause andThe Shaggy Dog) | Nominated |
| Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Picture | Zoom (Sony/Revolution) | Nominated |
| Worst Actor | Tim Allen (Also forThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause andThe Shaggy Dog) | Won | |
| Worst Supporting Actor | Chevy Chase (Also forDoogal) | Won | |
| Worst Supporting Actress | Courteney Cox | Nominated | |
| Worst Screenplay | Adam Rifkin David Berenbaum | Nominated | |
| Most Intrusive Musical Score | Christophe Beck | Nominated | |
| The Spencer Breslin Award (for Worst Performance by a Child in a Feature Role) | Spencer Breslin (Also forThe Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause andThe Shaggy Dog) | Won | |
| Worst Ensemble | Zoom | Nominated | |
| Foulest Family Film | Zoom | Won | |
| Least "Special" Special Effects | Zoom | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Younger | Ryan Newman | Nominated |
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Rupert Gregson-Williams was originally attached to compose the film, but dropped out to work onOver the Hedge, andChristophe Beck stepped in.[citation needed]Christophe Beck scored the music for the film and on its soundtrack.
Although an official movie soundtrack was not released, the following songs were heard during the film:
