Troop Zero (2020)

By: Mike Ward on Friday, January 17

PG Running Time: 99 mins

SHOULD I SEE IT?

YES

  • A harmless breeze of a comedy.

  • An easy watch, good for the family, with an off-kilter screenplay and recognizable stars.

  • Embraces its unique nature and quirky traits.

NO

  • The movie wanders a bit and seems to wrestle, at times, with the various subplots it introduces.

  • Enjoyable in the moment, not particularly memorable once it is over.

  • Some of the pop culture references used by directors Bert & Bertie in the film may confuse and fly over younger viewers heads.


OUR REVIEW

Debuting on Amazon Prime, Troop Zero is a far-ranging, but infinitely watchable family comedy about a little girl named Christmas and her desire to have her voice included on NASA’s Voyager Golden Record.

Set in Georgia, c. 1977, Christmas (McKenna Grace) is obsessed with all things outer space. Her father Ramsey (Jim Gaffigan) is a defense attorney, struggling to find clients, and both father and daughter desperately miss Christmas’ mother, who recently passed away.

The screenplay for Troop Zero, written by Lucy Alibar (Beasts of the Southern Wild), seems to celebrate the best and worst tendencies of movies like this. However, directors Bert & Bertie, a female British directing duo, keep the film afloat by nestling in and investing time in developing the idiosyncrasies of its characters.

Best in show is Viola Davis, who plays Rayleen, Ramsey’s legal assistant and de facto troop leader when Christmas decides she wants to organize a troop of Birdie Scouts. Her rationale: a Birdie Scout-sponsored singing competition, at the old Birdie Scout Jamboree, could result in the winner being selected to appear on the NASA recording. And for deeply personal reasons, Christmas really wants her voice to be included.

While the movie wanders a bit, Troop Zero never veers too far from celebrating the unique nature of who we are and the distinctive paths we carve out for ourselves. Rayleen, initially hesitant to work with the children, begins to embrace the ragtag group of misfits. Even more so, she stands strong for them while sparring with Miss Massey (Allison Janney), who leads a disciplined troop of mean girls who see solidifying their status as the best overall troop, while denigrating the new Scout troops, as equal tasks to complete on the way to the Jamboree.

Christmas and her scout mates, the aptly named Hell-No (Milan Ray), the silent Smash (Johanna Colón), one-eyed religious zealot Ann-Claire (Bella Higginbotham), and best friend, and lone boy in the troop, Joseph (Charlie Shotwell), band together and work to complete the badges Miss Massey’s troop had no interest in completing. Completing the badges allow the troop access to Jamboree, and Jamboree is the event Troop Zero must win for the opportunity to be on the NASA record.

Alibar adapted the film’s screenplay from a stage play she wrote back in 2010. Admittedly, Troop Zero does look like it would be just as home on stage as it does on screen. Directors Bert & Bertie zip the film along at a brisk pace, but the film strains trying to balance a number of the smaller subplots Alibar infuses into her storylines.

Though far from perfect, I actually didn’t mind the stumbles all that much and found it easy to just decelerate my mind and disappear into the film’s rhythms. Troop Zero goes down relatively smooth, there’s nothing offensive here, and the film carries a look and feel that’s often warm to the touch.

Can you point out flaws? Sure. Dialogue can feel strained at times, especially in some of the kids’ exchanges. The manner in which Ramsey assists the troop late in the movie feels forced and undercuts much of a main character’s entire arc. Yet, there remains an endearing, somewhat goofy charm about all of this which proves hard to ignore.

Increasingly, movies like Troop Zero are precisely the kind of movies people enjoy discovering on streaming platforms. An easy watch with recognizable stars and safe enough for a family movie night, Troop Zero is kind-hearted and quirky enough to leave a smile on your face pretty much the entire time.

CAST & CREW

Starring: McKenna Grace, Viola Davis, Jim Gaffigan, Allison Janney, Charlie Shotwell, MIlan Ray, Johanna Colón, Bella Higginbotham, Mike Epps, Ashley Brooke.

Director: Bert & Bertie
Written by: Lucy Alibar
Inspired by the play “Christmas and Jubilee Behold the Meteor Shower”
Release Date: January 17, 2020
Amazon Studios