“Clash of the Thundermans” is a direct-to-DVD movie, and it plays like one. It is a sequel to the Nickelodeon series The Thundermans, and it wants to be bigger than its TV origins without earning that scale. The result is a film that spends too long explaining its premise and not enough time delivering on it.
The setup is simple. The Thundermans family faces a new threat, and the kids must band together to save the day. That is the entire plot. The film does not complicate this idea, nor does it expand upon it. It simply repeats the formula of the original series, hoping that familiarity will carry it.
Trailer, via Paramount Plus.
Billy and Max
The Thundermans family is the heart of the movie, and it is here that the film finds its best moments. Ross Lynch and Kelli Berglund return as siblings Billy and Max, and their chemistry remains strong. Their scenes together are the ones worth watching, because they are the rare times the script remembers that character matters more than spectacle.
The adults fare less well. Jonathan Cake and Kaitlyn Fairley play the parents, and their roles are thin. They exist to react to the kids and to provide exposition. The film trusts them with little else, and that trust is misplaced.
The Villain’s Speech
The villain of “Clash of the Thundermans” is a familiar type: a supervillain who wants to destroy the world. The film introduces this threat with a long explanation, complete with a monologue about why the villain is justified. This is a mistake. A villain should be shown, not told.
The film also leans heavily on action set pieces, but these sequences feel hollow. The effects are modest, and the choreography is repetitive. A chase scene drags on for several minutes, and it accomplishes nothing except filling time.
The Middle Stretch
The middle section of “Clash of the Thundermans” is where the film loses its momentum. The pacing slows, and the stakes stop feeling urgent. The film introduces a new threat, explains it at length, and then spends the next twenty minutes circling around it without moving forward.
This is a common problem in sequels, but it is particularly pronounced here. The movie is trying to be a bigger adventure, but it lacks the discipline to make that adventure matter. The result is a film that feels padded, not epic.
The Supporting Cast
The other characters are less developed. The supporting cast exists to fill out the frame, not to drive the narrative. A few side characters get a line or two, but they are forgotten within seconds of being introduced.
The film’s weakest link is its lack of depth outside the central duo. Billy and Max carry the weight, and everyone else gets a shrug.
The Ending
The final stretch of “Clash of the Thundermans” arrives late, and it is rushed. The resolution ties everything together in a neat bow, but it feels like a checklist item rather than a genuine conclusion. The film has spent so much time building toward a climax that it barely has energy left to deliver one.
There is a brief moment of emotional payoff, but it is over quickly. The film ends with a cliffhanger that sets up a future installment, but it does not earn that setup. The audience is left waiting for a sequel that may never arrive.
The Numbers
- Title: Clash of the Thundermans
- Format: Direct-to-DVD release
- Starring: Ross Lynch, Kelli Berglund, Jonathan Cake, Kaitlyn Fairley
- Score: 4.7/10
“Clash of the Thundermans” is a mixed bag. It has a strong center in its two leads, but it is held back by a weak plot, a dull villain, and a runtime that overstays its welcome. The film is not a disaster, but it is not a success either.
It is a film that knows its strengths and ignores its weaknesses. The Thundermans are funnier and more engaging than the world they inhabit. The movie should have trusted them more.
