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Troop Zero
Troop Zero
Troop Zero
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Troop Zero
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBert & Bertie
Screenplay byLucy Alibar
Based onChristmas and Jubilee Behold The Meteor Shower
by Lucy Alibar
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJim Whitaker
Edited byCatherine Haight
Music byRob Lord
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Studios
Release dates
  • February 1, 2019 (2019-02-01) (Sundance)
  • January 17, 2020 (2020-01-17) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10-20 million[2]

Troop Zero is a 2019 American comedy-drama film directed by Bert & Bertie (Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood), from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar and inspired by Alibar's 2010 play Christmas and Jubilee Behold The Meteor Shower.[3] The film stars Viola Davis, Mckenna Grace, Jim Gaffigan, Mike Epps, Charlie Shotwell, and Allison Janney.[4]

Troop Zero had its world premiere as the closing film of Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2019, and was released in the United States by Amazon Studios on January 17, 2020.

The film was met with mixed reviews.

Plot

[edit]

In rural Wiggly, Georgia in 1977, a group of elementary-school misfits band together to form their own troop of Birdie Scouts.

Led by spunky outcast Christmas Flint, they infiltrate the Birdie Scout youth group in order to win a talent show. The winning Birdies will earn the right to have their voices included on the Voyager Golden Record, which Christmas believes will be heard by life in outer space, a connection her deceased mother nurtured. When they form the troop, the only number left unassigned in the state is zero.

While the Birdie Troop leader Krystal Massey intends to assign "Troop Zero" to them as a slight, the girls, and one boy, take it as a good sign as it's the number representing infinity. Troop Zero requires a troop mother, and they find one in Christmas's father's secretary Rayleen, who also has history with Mrs. Massey.

To qualify to compete in the talent show, Troop Zero must first obtain one troop badge each. As they go about earning them, they learn more about themselves and each other. The troop enters the contest, performing an interpretive dance of David Bowie’s "Space Oddity". During the performance, Christmas gets nervous and wets herself and the rest of the kids joins her to make her feel comfortable and the crowd laughs at them, but they carry on with their performance. In the end, they lose when the judges vote for the high-and-mighty Birdie Troop Five. Christmas gracefully accepts defeat and shakes hands with an impressed Mrs. Massey, who makes up with Ms. Rayleen.

Later that night, the representative from NASA joins the Troop Zero members during a meteor shower to record their voices to be transmitted into space as well. Hopeful and confident, Christmas wishes that the aliens are happy, that they're taking care of her mom, and that they have the same kind of friends she’s gained from the experience.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

In February 2018, it was announced Viola Davis had joined the cast of the film, with Bert & Bertie directing from a screenplay by Lucy Alibar. Todd Black produced the film, which Amazon Studios would distribute.[5]

This is the second feature film directed by Bert & Bertie, who have been creating commercials and shorts together since they met on a project in 2005.[6]

In March 2018, Mckenna Grace joined the cast of the film.[7] In April 2018, Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan joined the cast.[8] In May 2018, Mike Epps, Charlie Shotwell and Edi Patterson joined the cast.[9][10] In June 2018, Johanna Colón, Ashley Brooke, Milan Ray, Bella Higginbotham, and Kai Ture' joined the cast of the film. Troop Zero marks the second film together for Janney and Grace, who co-starred in the 2017 biopic I, Tonya.[11][12] This is also the second film featuring Allison Janney and Viola Davis, who co-starred in the 2011 film The Help.

The musical score for the film is by long time Bert & Bertie collaborator composer Rob Lord who has scored all the directors' projects to date.

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography began in May 2018 at Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville, Louisiana, with additional photography completed in Luling, Louisiana.[13]

Release

[edit]

It had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2019.[14] This was the first feature film from Amazon Studios to be released as streaming-only, on the Amazon Prime Video service,[15] on January 17, 2020.[16]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 68% approval rating based on 65 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10, with the consensus "Thanks to a charming cast and infectious energy, Troop Zero is more than the sum of its instantly familiar parts."[17] On Metacritic it has a score of 58% based on reviews from 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote: "Troop Zero is so sugary you’d get a cavity if you bit into it — but it’s also a cozy, satisfying and inspirational underdog tale, featuring a wonderful performance by Mckenna Grace."[19] John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter praised performance of Viola Davis, "Davis isn't given a very satisfying backstory to work with, but when has she needed one? The actress strikes a satisfying balance between reluctance and protectiveness. Gaffigan and Janney offer just what their parts in the story need, but Davis keeps it all on the rails."[20]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Troop Zero

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Troop Zero is a American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by the filmmaking duo Bert & Bertie (Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood) from a screenplay by , inspired by her 2010 Christmas and Jubilee Behold the Meteor Shower. Set in rural Georgia during the summer of 1977, the story follows 9-year-old Flint (played by ), a quirky and imaginative girl coping with her mother's recent death, who becomes obsessed with and joins the Birdie Scouts—a fictional equivalent of the Girl Scouts—to compete in a national contest offering a chance to have her voice recorded on NASA's . Through this endeavor, Christmas assembles a ragtag troop of fellow misfits, forging deep friendships and personal growth amid challenges from societal expectations and personal insecurities. The film features a notable , including as the no-nonsense scout leader Miss Massey, as the eccentric lawyer and Christmas's father's girlfriend, as Christmas's widowed father Ramsay Flint, and supporting roles by , Bella Higginbotham, , Johanna Colón, and Milan Ray as the other troop members. Produced by Amazon Studios, Big Indie Pictures, , and JuVee Productions, with producers , Jason Blumenthal, and , and executive producers including Alibar, Troop Zero emphasizes themes of inclusion, self-expression, and the wonder of , drawing parallels to Alibar's earlier work on . The screenplay highlights authentic Southern rural life and the era's fascination with the Voyager mission, blending humor with heartfelt moments without resorting to overly sentimental tropes. Troop Zero had its world premiere at the on February 1, 2019, and was released on on January 17, 2020. The film received generally positive reviews for its charming performances—particularly Grace's spirited portrayal and Davis's grounded presence—and its uplifting message, though some critics noted its predictable underdog narrative. It holds a 69% approval rating on based on 64 reviews, with the critics' consensus stating: "Thanks to a charming cast and infectious energy, Troop Zero is more than the sum of its instantly familiar parts." On , it scores 6.9 out of 10 from over 13,000 user ratings as of November 2025, appealing especially to family audiences for its empowering story of outsider kids finding their place.

Synopsis

Plot

In rural 1977 Georgia, 9-year-old Flint is a quirky, space-obsessed girl who copes with the death of her mother by imagining her as an extraterrestrial being communicating from the stars, often attempting to "contact" aliens through homemade signals and recordings. Living in a with her widowed father, lawyer Ramsey Flint, discovers a contest tied to the Voyager probes' Golden Record, which will carry voices and sounds of into ; the opportunity is open to Birdie Scouts, whose winners will be selected for the recording. Eager to send a message that might reach her mother, seeks to join the local Birdie Scout troop but is rejected due to her odd behavior and lack of a , leading her to form an unofficial group, Troop Zero, with fellow misfits: the artistic , tough Hell-No , her sidekick Smash, and shy evangelical Anne-Claire. She recruits her father's no-nonsense secretary, Rayleen, as their reluctant troop mother, who provides guidance amid the girls' chaotic enthusiasm. As Troop Zero pursues the required merit badges—tackling challenges like , , and —they face constant antagonism from the official Troop Bee, led by snobbish Piper Keller and overseen by the condescending scout coordinator Miss Massey, who views the ragtag group as a disruption. Christmas's bed-wetting issue and eccentric habits, including her red rain boots and , intensify the bullying, but the troop bonds through shared trials, with Rayleen offering tough-love mentorship and Ramsey providing quiet support despite his grief-stricken distance. The group prepares for the regional , practicing a bizarre blending and personal quirks, while Christmas grapples with her longing for connection, occasionally clashing with Rayleen over discipline and dreams. Christmas's determination fosters growth among the misfits, teaching them resilience and . At the climactic , Troop Zero's performance unravels when Christmas wets herself on stage from nerves, but her friends rally in solidarity, improvising to complete their act with unpolished authenticity rather than perfection. Though they don't win the official contest against the polished Troop Bee, a sympathetic representative, moved by their genuine spirit and the historical significance of the impending Voyager launch, allows their recording to be included on the Golden Record. In the resolution, Christmas finds closure in honoring her mother's memory through the cosmic message, the troop embraces their individuality, Rayleen rediscovers purpose, and the group celebrates their personal triumphs, affirming that true belonging comes from among outcasts.

Cast

ActorRole
Christmas Flint
Miss Rayleen
Ramsey Flint
Miss Massey
Joseph
Milan RayHell-No Price
Johanna ColónSmash
Bella HigginbothamAnne-Claire
Dwayne Champaign
Ashley BrookePiper Keller

Production

Development

The screenplay for Troop Zero was written by , who drew inspiration from her 2010 one-act play Christmas and Jubilee Behold the Meteor Shower, which featured similar outsider characters obsessed with space and meteor showers as a for otherworldly connection. Alibar adapted the play into a feature-length script, incorporating elements from her own childhood in rural , including feelings of being a misfit and a fascination with . The project entered pre-production in August 2017 under Amazon Studios, marking the official announcement of its development as an original production. Directors (Amber Templemore-Finlayson and Katie Ellwood) first read and attached themselves to the script in 2014, drawn to its themes of female friendship and resilience that echoed their own experiences as young outsiders in programs. Central creative decisions centered on anchoring the story in to align with NASA's Voyager launches and the inclusion of the Golden Record—a of human sounds and images sent into space—allowing the narrative to explore dreams of as a pathway for the protagonist's personal growth. While the original play focused on intimate, individual character studies, Alibar's screenplay revisions expanded the ensemble to highlight collaborative misfit dynamics within a fictional Birdie Scouts troop, emphasizing themes of belonging and collective perseverance over isolation. Producers , Jason Blumenthal, and , through , oversaw the low-budget independent production.

Filming

for Troop Zero took place over 28 days in the summer of 2018, primarily in to evoke the rural 1970s Georgia setting of the fictional town of Wiggly. began in May at Fairview-Riverside in Madisonville for the sequences, with additional filming in Luling, Lutcher, Lafitte, and other sites in St. Tammany Parish, including Boutte's Restaurant and areas near the Chef Menteur Bridge. These locations provided marshy, rural backdrops that captured the film's period aesthetic, such as transforming Lutcher's into a and using waterways for outdoor scenes. The production faced logistical challenges due to its low budget and tight schedule, compounded by a cast largely composed of child actors requiring strict safety protocols and coordinated scheduling. James Whitaker employed an ARRI ALEXA SXT camera with Vantage MiniHawk lenses to achieve an anamorphic look on a lightweight setup, facilitating handheld and dolly shots across diverse exteriors outside New Orleans. Practical elements enhanced the 1977 vibe, including period-appropriate costumes and props like rubber boots for marsh navigation, while high-frame-rate slow-motion captured dynamic sequences such as the food fight. Directors Bert & Bertie adapted their approach to the ensemble of young performers, seamlessly alternating roles to maintain creative flow and using the natural environment for authentic energy in scenes. Summer weather posed additional hurdles, with intense heat, storms, flies, and cicadas disrupting shoots, though a snake wrangler ensured safety by removing wildlife like a poisonous snake during work. began immediately after wrap in November 2018, edited by Catherine Haight.

Release

Premiere

Troop Zero had its world premiere as the closing night film at the on February 1, 2019.

Distribution

Troop Zero was distributed by Amazon Studios, with a primary focus on video-on-demand release rather than a wide theatrical rollout. The distribution strategy emphasized streaming accessibility over traditional cinema exhibition. The wide commercial debut occurred on on January 17, 2020, marking Amazon Studios' first streaming-only release. It became available internationally across over 200 countries and territories on the platform starting the same date, broadening its reach to global audiences through Prime subscriptions. Marketing efforts centered on digital promotion, including an official trailer released in December 2019 that highlighted the film's themes of and the ensemble cast led by and . Posters similarly emphasized the 1977 Georgia setting, the Birdie Scouts storyline, and the inspirational narrative, without a significant theatrical . As of November 2025, Troop Zero remains available for streaming to Amazon Prime subscribers worldwide, with options for digital purchase and rental on platforms such as and Apple TV.

Reception

Critical response

Troop Zero received mixed reviews from critics upon its release. On , the film holds a 69% approval rating based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10; the site's critics consensus states, "Thanks to a charming cast and infectious energy, Troop Zero is more than the sum of its instantly familiar parts." On , it scores 58 out of 100 based on 12 critic reviews, signifying "mixed or average" reception. Audience scores were more favorable, reaching 75% on . Critics frequently praised the young cast's performances, particularly Mckenna Grace as the quirky protagonist Christmas Flint, whose energetic and sincere portrayal was described as dazzling and heartfelt. The ensemble of child actors was commended for their infectious chemistry, bringing authenticity to the themes of friendship and belonging. Viola Davis's supporting role as the troop leader Miss Rayleen earned acclaim for providing a grounded, no-nonsense to the film's whimsy, with reviewers noting her ability to elevate the material. The movie's heartwarming exploration of misfit camaraderie and its nostalgic depiction of 1970s Georgia life, infused with references to and , were highlighted as endearing elements that appealed to family audiences. However, the film's pacing drew criticism for feeling uneven, with some sequences dragging amid the rush to resolve its underdog narrative. Reviewers often found the whimsical tone forced and overly saccharine, with Variety labeling it "aggressively whimsical" and a crowdpleaser that neither reinvents nor fully commits to its eccentricities. Comparisons to similar coming-of-age tales underscored its derivative quality, as Rolling Stone described it as a snobs-versus-slobs comedy "one you've seen a million times before." The New York Times acknowledged its pleasant nature but noted it failed to subvert expectations or deliver deeper emotional impact. Initial in 2020 emphasized the film's crowdpleasing potential despite its flaws, with later streaming availability reinforcing its appeal as a lighthearted, timeless family viewing option.

Accolades

At the , directors Bert & Bertie won the Directors to Watch Award. The film received a at the 2020 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a TV Movie/Limited Series for . At the 2021 Casting Society of America Artios Awards, it was nominated in the category of Motion Picture – Comedy for casting directors Mary Vernieu, Lindsay Graham, Lisa Mae Fincannon, and Kimberly Wistedt. It also earned a nomination at the 2021 Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Non-Theatrical Feature.

References

  1. https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/1/16/21065808/troop-zero-review-amazon-viola-davis-allison-janney-jim-gaffigan-movie-film-nasa-voyager-scouts
  2. https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/fear-not-there-is-a-place-for-you-lucy-alibar-on-troop-zero-beasts-of-the-southern-wild/
  3. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404465/
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/troop_zero
  5. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/troop-zero
  6. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/troop-zero-review-1179353/
  7. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/troop-zero-movie-review-2020
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404465/releaseinfo/
  9. https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/film-review-troop-zero-1203470916/
  10. https://www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/troop-zero-2020/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404465/fullcredits
  12. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenlopez/2020/01/17/learning-to-fly-with-the-birdies-behind-troop-zero/
  13. https://www.movieinsider.com/m15818/troupe-zero
  14. https://www.talkhouse.com/bertberties-great-girl-adventure/
  15. https://www.space.com/troop-zero-movie-voyager-golden-record.html
  16. https://variety.com/2019/film/news/viola-davis-troop-zero-sundance-the-help-1203116621/
  17. https://x2x.media/case-studies/James-Whitaker-lights-the-way-to-the-stars-in-Troop-Zero
  18. https://www.nola.com/news/communities/st_tammany/how-troop-zero-found-a-home-in-st-tammany-familiar-faces-places-turn-up-in/article_0e0f866e-3d83-11ea-884f-eb1920e58596.html
  19. https://www.explorelouisiana.com/film-louisiana/troop-zero
  20. https://www.latlong.net/location/troop-zero-locations-386
  21. https://codex.online/dit/moving-images-under-the-stars-in-Troop-Zero
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404465/companycredits/
  23. https://deadline.com/2019/11/amazon-troop-zero-viola-davis-allison-janney-sundance-movie-amazon-prime-streaming-1202782730/
  24. https://awardswatch.com/troop-zero-to-debut-exclusively-on-amazon-prime-in-january/
  25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi4C6GncmQ4
  26. https://www.impawards.com/2019/troop_zero.html
  27. https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/troop-zero
  28. https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/troop-zero/umc.cmc.5s1xs6f6xshztgoi8vvg9j14y
  29. https://www.amazon.com/Troop-Zero-y-Allison-Janney/dp/B08CS4KCVF
  30. https://www.metacritic.com/movie/troop-zero/
  31. https://www.theindependentcritic.com/troop_zero
  32. https://silverscreenanalysis.com/troop-zero-2020-review/
  33. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-01-16/troop-zero-david-bowie-review
  34. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/troop-zero-movie-review-viola-davis-939008/
  35. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/movies/troop-zero-review-a-new-generation-of-underdogs.html
  36. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2404465/awards/
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