Struck by Lightning 2013

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Except for Ms. Janney's monstrous mother and an Alzheimer's-afflicted grandmother (Polly Bergen), "Struck by Lightning" gives its characters no dimension. Read more

Tasha Robinson, AV Club: Lightning is a funny, fast-moving movie, packed with barbed one-liners, goofy hyperbole, and all the oversized exasperation of teen angst. But it's too acid, particularly where Colfer is concerned. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Some charming, buzzy talents pitch in on this short little lark ... Read more

Amanda Mae Meyncke, Film.com: At times the film is charming against its own will, but it remains needlessly complicated and obsessed with its own mythology and metaphors. Read more

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: Chris Colfer's Glee appeal is AWOL in this strained dark comedy about a high school misfit. Read more

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times: If only "Struck by Lightning" had a sharper, stronger perspective, it might have made more of its conceit. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: Colfer is still very young, but he needs to learn that "snide" is not a point of view. Read more

Ella Taylor, NPR: There isn't much to say about Struck by Lightning, except that it's one of those interchangeable teen movies that lands in theaters in early January, the morgue for films nobody knows what to do with. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: One can't blame Colfer for wanting to expand his range, but he's created a character who is neither hero nor villain, in a black comedy that is neither dark nor funny enough. Read more

Sara Stewart, New York Post: Ultimately, it all portends a much brighter future for Colfer than for Carson. Read more

Omer Mozaffar, Chicago Sun-Times: What makes this film rise a bit above the pack is the recurring idea that everyone wants to leave their nests and fly high into the sky, but few are able. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: In his screenwriting debut, Glee's gifted Chris Colfer, 22, proves he can lace a line with sass and soul. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: All but the hard-core Colferphiles slink out embarrassed, feeling as confused and discombobulated as if they too just took an electric bolt to the brain. Read more

Rob Nelson, Variety: A mediocre coming-of-age indie. Read more

Brian Miller, Village Voice: Struck by Lightning means well, but its gentle dissection of high school cliques brings nothing new to the genre ... Read more