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Zoom (2006 film)

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Zoom
An old man wearing a brown jacket, and four teenagers wearing yellow jumpsuits
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPeter Hewitt
Screenplay by
Story byAdam Rifkin
Based onAmazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy
by Jason Lethcoe
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDavid Tattersall
Edited byLawrence Jordan
Music byChristophe Beck
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • August 11, 2006 (2006-08-11)
Running time
88 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$75.6 million[2]
Box office$12.5 million[3]

Zoom (also known as Zoom: Academy for Superheroes) is a 2006 American superhero comedy film directed by Peter Hewitt and written by Adam Rifkin and David Berenbaum. Based upon the children's book Amazing Adventures from Zoom's Academy by Jason Lethcoe,[4] the film stars Tim Allen, Courteney Cox, Chevy Chase, Spencer Breslin, and Rip 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 by Columbia Pictures, the film was panned by critics and it was a box office bomb, earning just $12.5 million on a $75.6 million budget. Zoom was nominated for one Razzie Award, Worst Actor for Tim Allen (who was also nominated for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and The Shaggy Dog), but he lost to Marlon and Shawn Wayans for Little Man (also produced by Columbia Pictures and Revolution Studios).

Plot

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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 a psychotic 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 a dimensional 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 clumsy psychologist 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 possess invisibility, psionic powers, self-inflation, and super-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.

Cast

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Production

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In June 2003, Revolution Studios acquired the rights to Zoom'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 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.[8][better source needed]

Release

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Theatrical

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Zoom was theatrically released on August 11, 2006, by Columbia Pictures.

Home media

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Zoom was released on DVD on February 13, 2007, by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment under the name Zoom: Academy for Superheroes.[citation needed]

Reception

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Box office

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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]

Critical response

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On Rotten 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 of The Incredibles and Sky High, Zoom is a dull and laugh-free affair."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 26 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[10] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.[11]

Awards

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Zoom was nominated for one Razzie Award, Worst Actor for Tim Allen (also nominated for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause and The Shaggy Dog), but he lost to the Wayans brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans for Little Man.[citation needed]

List of awards and nominations
Award Category Nominee Result
Razzie Award Worst Actor Tim Allen (Also for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
and The Shaggy Dog)		 Nominated
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst Picture Zoom (Sony/Revolution) Nominated
Worst Actor Tim Allen (Also for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
and The Shaggy Dog )		 Won
Worst Supporting Actor Chevy Chase (Also for Doogal) 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 for The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
and The 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

Music

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Christophe Beck scored the music for the film and on its soundtrack.

Rupert Gregson-Williams was originally attached to compose the film, but dropped out to work on Over the Hedge, and Christophe Beck stepped in.[citation needed] Christophe Beck scored the music for the film and on its soundtrack.

Soundtrack

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Although an official movie soundtrack was not released, the following songs were heard during the film:

References

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  1. ^ "ZOOM (PG)". British Board of Film Classification. October 10, 2006. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Lang, Brent (September 1, 2011). "'Inside the Revolution Library: Where Joe Roth Went Wrong". TheWrap.com. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Zoom (2006)". Box Office Mojo. Internet Movie Database. September 18, 2006. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  4. ^ Ballantine Books, 2005, ISBN 978-0-345-48355-3
  5. ^ "Revolution swoops in for 'Zoom'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  6. ^ "Hewitt to groom 'Zoom'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Tim Allen Reflects on 2006 'Zoom' Movie as Its Title Takes on New Meaning in Quarantine (Exclusive)". April 23, 2020. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "Internet Movie Database - List of Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario". IMDb. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  9. ^ "Zoom (2006)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on May 19, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2021. Edit this at Wikidata
  10. ^ "Zoom (2006) Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on January 25, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  11. ^ "Cinemascore". Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
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