Spark (2016 film)

Last updated
Spark
Spark Poster 2017.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Aaron Woodley
Written byAaron Woodley
Produced byTracy Grant
Woo-Kyung Jung
Youngki Lee
Harry Linden
Jun Zheng
Starring
Edited byPaul Hunter
Aaron Woodley
Music by Robert Duncan
Production
companies
Distributed by Open Road Films
Release dates
  • April 22, 2016 (2016-04-22)(TAAFI) [2]
  • April 14, 2017 (2017-04-14)(United States)
  • April 28, 2017 (2017-04-28)(Canada)
Running time
91 minutes [3]
CountriesCanada
South Korea
United States
China
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million [4]
Box office$1.04 million [5]

Spark (known as Spark: A Space Tail in the United States) is a 2016 animated science fiction adventure comedy film written and directed by Aaron Woodley, and featuring the voices of Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank, Susan Sarandon, Patrick Stewart, Jace Norman and Alan C. Peterson. [6] The film premiered on April 22, 2016, at the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International. [2] It was released on April 14, 2017, in the United States by Open Road Films with distribution sold by Double Dutch International in all international markets except China and South Korea. [1]

Contents

Spark got mostly negative reviews, and was a major box-office bomb, earning only $1 million on a $40 million budget.

Plot

Set in a galaxy where anthropomorphic animals and aliens live together, Thirteen years ago, the evil primate General Zhong overthrew his noble brother to seize the throne of the planet Bana, using a spacetime anomaly known as "the slick", which has the ability to create black holes; slicks were made by a wild creature known as a space kraken. The black hole created from the slick partially destroyed Bana, and swallowed up many subjects. Among the few survivors were a monkey only a year old named Spark, a warrior fox named Vix, and a boar mechanic named Chunk.

In the present, Spark, Vix, Chunk and Spark's forgetful nanny bot, Bananny, secretly live on a shard used as a garbage dump, with Vix and Chunk leading insurgency missions against Zhong, although they constantly forbid Spark from coming along. One day, Spark intercepts an e-mail sent to Vix about a new mission, and decides to take the mission himself without her knowing. The e-mail leads to the Queen of Bana, whom Zhong still permits to live in the palace. After Spark infiltrates the palace and meets the Queen, she hands him a kraken-finder, which Zhong wants to use to find and recapture the space kraken in order to destroy another planet. Spark decides to use it to find the kraken himself; he tames the creature and brings it back to the garbage shard. But he then finds his home raided by Zhong's forces, who then capture both him and the kraken. Zhong forces the kraken to make a new slick into which he hurls Spark, Vix, Chunk and the entire garbage shard.

The trio discover that the slick is actually a wormhole that leads to a desert planet. Vix and Chunk get upset at Spark for causing Zhong to obtain the kraken, and then split up. Spark finds survivors of the first slick, living in the King's old flagship battle cruiser. The Captain of the flagship reveals that Spark is in fact the son of the King and Queen, who entrusted Vix and Chunk to hide and protect him. He also reveals that the King had actually died in an accident some years ago, but Spark has a vision of the King when he visits a memorial to him, and finds a special weapon made for the royal family. Spark then learns from the deceased King that his friends have been captured by giant mutated roaches. Spark, with the help of his father's spirit and his roach friend, Floyd, defeats the mutated roaches and rescues Vix and Chunk. Spark rallies Vix, Chunk, the Captain and his survivors to mount an attack on Zhong, and Chunk figures out a way to use technology to make a slick of their own. In the meantime, Zhong uses the space kraken to intimidate the rest of the galaxy.

The flagship and survivors return to Bana through their own slick, and ultimately defeat Zhong's forces after a prolonged battle. Spark personally rescues the queen from Zhong's own flagship, which gets critically damaged during the battle. Spark decides to rescue his "Uncle" Zhong as well, but the annoyed Queen then punches Zhong into the slick after he "begs" for forgiveness.

The film ends with Spark's friends and allies celebrating him becoming the new Prince of Bana.

Voice cast

Production

In January 2015, Deadline Hollywood announced that Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank and Susan Sarandon joined the cast with Aaron Woodley directing, and Red Rover, Gulfstream Pictures and ToonBox Entertainment producing. Woodley would also be writing the screenplay with Doug Hadders and Adam Rotstein. [7]

Music

The film's score was composed by Robert Duncan

Personnel

Release

The film premiered at the Toronto Animation Arts Festival International on April 22, 2016. [2] It was released in the United States by Open Road Films on April 14, 2017. [1] On June 27, 2017, Universal Home Entertainment released Spark on video. [8]

Reception

Critical response

As of October 2022, on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 13% based on 23 reviews, with an average review score of 3.8/10. [9] As of May 2017 on Metacritic, it had a score of 22 out of 100, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". [10]

Box office

Spark opened in 365 theaters in North America and grossed $112,352 in its opening weekend, taking in $308 per theater. [11] The film's total theatrical run brought in $891,925 worldwide, making the film a box office bomb. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Thelma & Louise</i> 1991 film by Ridley Scott

Thelma & Louise is a 1991 American crime drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. The film stars Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis as Louise and Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unforeseen circumstances. The supporting cast includes Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and Brad Pitt. Filming took place in California and Utah from June to August 1990.

<i>Atlantic City</i> (1980 film) 1980 romantic crime film directed by Louis Malle

Atlantic City is a 1980 romantic crime film directed by Louis Malle from a screenplay by John Guare. It stars Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon in the leading roles, with a supporting cast featuring Kate Reid, Michel Piccoli, Robert Joy, Hollis McLaren, and Al Waxman. A co-production between French and Canadian companies filmed in late 1979, it was released in France and Germany in September 1980 and in the United States later that year by Paramount Pictures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Biel</span> American actress (born 1982)

Jessica Claire Timberlake is an American actress. Biel began her career as a vocalist appearing in musical productions until she was cast as Mary Camden in the family drama series 7th Heaven (1996–2006), in which she achieved recognition.

<i>Million Dollar Baby</i> 2004 American sports drama film by Clint Eastwood

Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 American sports drama film starring Hilary Swank. It is directed, co-produced, scored by and starring Clint Eastwood from a screenplay written by Paul Haggis, based on stories from the 2000 collection Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole, the pen name of fight manager and cutman Jerry Boyd. It also stars Morgan Freeman. The film follows Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald (Swank), an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by an underappreciated boxing trainer (Eastwood) to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.

<i>The Gift</i> (2000 film) 2000 American supernatural thriller film

The Gift is a 2000 American paranormal thriller film directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton's mother.

<i>The Affair of the Necklace</i> 2001 film by Charles Shyer

The Affair of the Necklace is a 2001 American historical drama film directed by Charles Shyer and written by John Sweet, based on the 1785 scandal at the court of Louis XVI that became known as the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, which contributed to discreditation of the French monarchy on the eve of the French Revolution.

<i>Elizabethtown</i> (film) 2005 film by Cameron Crowe

Elizabethtown is a 2005 American romantic tragicomedy film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Its story follows a young shoe designer, Drew Baylor, who is fired from his job after costing his company an industry record of nearly one billion dollars. On the verge of suicide, Drew receives a call from his sister telling him that their father has died while visiting their former hometown of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Deciding to postpone his suicide and bring their father's body back to Oregon, he then becomes involved in an unexpected romance with Claire Colburn, whom he meets near the start of his journey. Elizabethtown stars Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Alec Baldwin, and Susan Sarandon.

The 63rd Golden Globe Awards, honoring the best in film and television for 2005, were presented on January 16, 2006, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, in Los Angeles, California. The nominations were announced on December 13, 2005.

The 25th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 1999, were announced on December 11, 1999 and awarded on January 19, 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giambattista Valli</span> Italian fashion designer (born 1966)

Giambattista Valli is an Italian fashion designer. He is from Rome, Italy. His collections, both ready to wear and Haute couture, are presented semi-annually during Paris Fashion Week.

<i>Amelia</i> (film) 2009 American film

Amelia is a 2009 biographical film about the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. The film stars Hilary Swank as Earhart, and co-stars Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston and Joe Anderson. The film was directed by Mira Nair and based on The Sound of Wings by Mary S. Lovell. The film received predominantly negative reviews, with critics polarized over the performances and criticizing the film's story. It was also a box-office bomb, grossing $19.6 million against a budget of $40 million.

<i>New Years Eve</i> (2011 film) 2011 film directed by Garry Marshall

New Year's Eve is a 2011 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall, written by Katherine Fugate, and starring an ensemble cast consisting of Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Jon Bon Jovi, Abigail Breslin, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Zac Efron, Héctor Elizondo, Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Joey McIntyre, Seth Meyers, Lea Michele, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Paulson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Til Schweiger, Jake T. Austin, Hilary Swank, and Sofía Vergara.

Aaron Woodley is a Canadian film director and screenwriter.

<i>The Death & Life of John F. Donovan</i> 2018 Canadian film

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan is a 2018 Canadian drama film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Xavier Dolan, in his English-language debut. The film stars Kit Harington, Jacob Tremblay, Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Thandiwe Newton, Ben Schnetzer, and Jared Keeso. It deals with themes of celebrity, tabloid media in Hollywood, mother-son relationships, and homosexuality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jace Norman</span> American actor

Jace Lee Norman is an American actor. He starred as Henry Hart in the Nickelodeon television series Henry Danger from 2014 to 2020.

<i>Denial</i> (2016 film) 2016 film

Denial is a 2016 biographical film directed by Mick Jackson and written by David Hare, based on Deborah Lipstadt's 2005 book History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier. It dramatises the Irving v Penguin Books Ltd case, in which Lipstadt, a Holocaust scholar, was sued by David Irving, a Holocaust denier, for libel. It stars Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Spall, Andrew Scott, Jack Lowden, Caren Pistorius and Alex Jennings.

<i>The Secret Scripture</i> (film) 2016 Irish film

The Secret Scripture is a 2016 Irish film, directed by Jim Sheridan from a screenplay by Sheridan and Johnny Ferguson, which is based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Sebastian Barry. The film stars Vanessa Redgrave, Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, Theo James, Aidan Turner, and Jack Reynor.

<i>A Bad Moms Christmas</i> 2017 American Christmas comedy film

A Bad Moms Christmas is a 2017 American Christmas comedy film written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. It is a sequel to the 2016 film Bad Moms. The plot follows the three moms from the first film dealing with their own mothers visiting during the Christmas holiday.

<i>Ordinary Angels</i> (film) 2024 film by Jon Gunn

Ordinary Angels is a 2024 American Christian drama film. Directed by Jon Gunn and written by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, it is based on true events that transpired during the 1994 North American cold wave. It stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones.

References

  1. 1 2 3 D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 2, 2016). "Open Road Takes To 'Spark', Animated Movie With Patrick Stewart, Jessica Biel, Hilary Swank & Susan Sarandon". Deadline . Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Milligan, Mercedes (March 1, 2016). "ToonBox's 'Spark' to Open TAAFI". Animation Magazine. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Spark (2017)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ "2017 Box Office Winners and Losers".
  5. ↑ "Spark: A Space Tail".
  6. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 29, 2015). "Hilary Swank, Susan Sarandon Join Animated 'Spark'". Variety . Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Mike Fleming Jr (January 29, 2015). "Hilary Swank, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Biel To Voice Ani Pic 'Spark'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Spark: A Space Tail (2017) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Spark: A Space Tail (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Spark: A Space Tail". Metacritic. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ Mendelson, Scott. "Box Office: 'Fate Of The Furious' Drifts To $100M Weekend, 'Spark' Bombs". Forbes.
  12. ↑ "Spark: A Space Tail (2017) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.