Tim Allen’s Superhero Dream Crashed in the Epic Fail of ‘Zoom’

by

For a long time, Tim Allen has been a well-known and accomplished actor, particularly in comedy and kid’s entertainment. He gained fame through his appearances on the sitcoms “Home Improvement” and “Last Man Standing,” as well as providing the voice for Buzz Lightyear in the “Toy Story” series. Notably, he also starred as Santa Claus in the “Santa Clause” films, and showcased his acting versatility by portraying an impressive villain as well.

Based on all evidence, a children’s superhero film would align well with Allen’s portfolio. Although he might not immediately spring to mind as a crime-fighting, world-rescuing, caped crusader, the premise for his 2006 movie “Zoom: Academy for Superheroes” contained all the necessary components to thrive – a leader with a troubled past, a group of kids endowed with superpowers to mentor, and an adversary to vanquish.

Peter Hewitt, who had recently wrapped up the 2004 live-action adaptation of Garfield (a film that received mixed reviews, although Roger Ebert seemed to enjoy it), took on the director’s chair for Zoom. Remarkably, despite the critical backlash, this Garfield movie managed to rake in over $200 million at the box office, on a budget of just $50 million. Consequently, Hewitt was bringing a solid track record of commercial success into the production of Zoom.

Regrettably, the project experienced a significant setback. It generated just $12.5 million in revenue while requiring an investment of $75.6 million, resulting in a mere 5% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and viewers alike found numerous flaws in the film, such as its complex storyline, juvenile humor, poorly developed and dislikable characters, and miscast roles.

What Is ‘Zoom’ About?

According to the children’s book “Amazing Adventures from Zoom’s Academy” penned by ex-Disney/Warner Bros. animator Jason Lethcoe, screenwriters Adam Rifkin and David Berenbaum had a solid foundation for their work. However, it appears that the issues started right off the bat with disagreements between Allen (the production team or studio), regarding the film’s tone, which eventually led to a downward spiral in the project.

In this cinematic outing, I found myself immersed in the story of Tim Allen’s character, Jack Shepard, alias Captain Zoom – once a speedster extraordinaire, now grappling with the loss of his superhuman velocity. The plot demands a prequel – a warning sign for me – that lays out their shared past: Jack and his brother Connor (Kevin Zegers), who went by the heroic name Concussion, were integral members of a covert government unit, Team Zenith, assigned with safeguarding our world from imminent perils.

Before the U.S. military tested Gamma-13 on our team, an event that triggered Concussion’s mental collapse, I should clarify. He went on to slaughter every member of our squad, leaving Zoom with no choice but to shove him into a vortex, presumably ending his life and stripping Zoom of his powers. To be honest, the narrative here is convoluted with several inconsistencies.

The core plot unfolds as the challenging task falls upon Zoom, a recalcitrant character, to mentor the fresh Team Zenith: Houdini (Michael Cassidy), a teen possessing abilities of invisibility and clairvoyance; Wonder (Kate Mara), a telekinetic teenager; Mega Boy (Spencer Breslin), an obese boy with the power to inflate certain body parts; and Princess (Ryan Newman), a young girl endowed with superhuman strength. Courteney Cox takes on the role of Dr. Marsha Holloway, a brainy psychologist who joins the team, eventually disclosing her own superpower: generating gusts of multicolored wind.

Conflict escalates among the children and Zoom, whose anger could potentially spoil their unity. Throughout their lessons, both adults and children exhibit appalling behavior towards each other, with limited instances of kindness. As time passes, they discover that Concussion is stuck in a dimensional gap and will soon reappear on Earth. This discovery coincides with the military’s plan to use the kids as a diversion while testing new weapons on Concussion. In a surprising turn of events, Zoom develops compassion (and miraculously regains his powers?) in order to protect Team Zenith children and his brother.

How Did ‘Zoom’ Fall Flat?

The film “Zoom” struggles to make sense due to an inconsistent tone that sets it off on the wrong foot from the start. As Tim Allen explained to KSAT, the script for the movie was originally much darker, but studio interventions transformed it into a family-friendly film. Additionally, in other interviews, the actor claimed that the project was initially intended as a parody, but conflicting creative decisions resulted in a production that’s neither serious nor humorous enough to appeal to either kids or adults. Instead of taking a satirical approach to superhero movies, “Zoom” adopts all the elements it’s meant to mock, leading to a disappointing and uninteresting film.

‘Zoom’ Suffered From Bad Jokes and Terrible Characters

In Zoom, the humor ranges from poorly executed to downright offensive, with an overreliance on lowbrow jokes like fart gags and slapstick (for instance, Chevy Chase gets sprayed in the face by a skunk). Mega Boy is frequently ridiculed for his weight, while Princess is so gratingly irritating and obviously villainous that she becomes nearly unbearable to watch. Courteney Cox struggles to convincingly portray a geek, even when scolding kids to keep their hands off her valuable comic book collection. One of the team’s exploits, flying a spaceship through a Wendy’s drive-thru, is arguably more thrilling than the rest of the film.

In simplifying the original text, The movie “Zoom” attempts to cater to a younger audience, but its childish humor and shallow characters make it hard for viewers to connect with them. For instance, Zoom’s guilt over his brother’s death feels underdeveloped, as does the impact of Concussion killing the entire Zenith team on Zoom. Additionally, we don’t learn much about the kids’ lives beyond their training, which makes their storylines less engaging for audiences.

‘Zoom’ Tried (and Failed) to Emulate Other Movies

A significant concern raised about Zoom was its likeness to other existing superhero ventures. Notably, The Incredibles, one of Pixar’s top films and a highly successful kids’ superhero franchise, debuted in 2004. By the time Zoom was released, many elements they aimed to present had already been executed – more effectively. In an interview with IGN, Tim Allen himself admitted that their work was limited by various constraints they faced. He stated: “The challenges we encountered were due to the restrictions placed upon us.

Apparently, you can’t create this character with unique attributes because every superhero trait is already taken. For instance, it wouldn’t work to have a character wearing glasses in a movie who only has one eye or similar oddities. It seemed strange and required frequent script revisions. So, maintaining the balance between satire, parody, and a storyline that appeals to both kids and adults proved challenging.

Another project reminiscent of Zoom was the 1999 sci-fi satire Galaxy Quest, featuring Tim Allen alongside Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. A heartwarming parody of Star Trek and similar series, Galaxy Quest was both funny and beloved by fans, eventually earning cult classic status. Interestingly, Paramount+ is currently working on a series inspired by the movie. It seems that Allen may have tried to replicate this success with Zoom, but its ultimate downfall indicates he might have been better off not tinkering with it.

Fortunately, Allen retired from wearing his superhero costume permanently and went on to have an exceptionally prosperous career over the subsequent years. In 2025, he made a comeback to the sitcom world with ABC’s popular show “Shifting Gears,” taking on a role that better suits him.

Read More

2025-02-17 03:38