Mystery Men (1999)

Directed by Kinka Usher
Written by Neil Cuthbert, based on the comic book by Bob Burden
Starring Ben Stiller, Willam H. Macy, Hank Azaria, Geoffrey Rush, Janeane Garofalo

My Advice: Don't Miss It.

Welcome to Champion City, home of Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear), a superhero who's so good, he's got corporate sponsorship and a publicist.  He has statues erected in his honor, he's on every billboard, and everybody loves him.  Oh and yeah, there's some other heroes too, but they don't have the cred that the good Captain does.  You have Mr. Furious (Stiller), a walking Pompeii of anger; The Shoveler (Macy), who shovels well, dammit; and Blue Raja (Azaria), effete master of silverware.  They really want to play in the big leagues but they just can't get it together.  However, when the evil Casanova Frankenstein (Rush) is released from the asylum where he was residing and takes Captain Amazing prisoner, the wannabes are going to havetobe--and they're going to need reinforcements.

Who would have thought that this movie, a pseudo-parody of comic book movies, based on a comic, which was a mostly parody of comic books, would be better than most of the "serious" comic book films to grace (or stain) the silver screen?  But don't be fooled by the fact that these heroes have seemingly useless abilities and think this is merely a spoof of Burton/Schumacher silliness.  The Shoveler is a family man with three kids and a wife who wants him to quit running around adventuring.  Blue Raja lives with his mom, who thinks he's a pothead.  And Mr. Furious is so angry he can't even think straight enough to ask out a lovely waitress (Claire Forlani).  My point is: they're fleshed out characters that somebody took the time to write, rather than the regular formula of slap a costume on somebody, give them a wild origin, and have them kick the shit out of people.  That formula can and will work, but sometimes you just need more.  And that more comes with having a film with comedy and heart--and a message even.  It's one of having faith in yourself--but thank the gods it's a smart enough film not to smack you over the head with the moral, like a bad episode of Super Friends.  Hell, every episode of Super Friends.  Anyway, I thank Usher and Cuthbert for delivering the aforementioned more.

I also thank the wildest and most diverse ensemble cast of actors in recent memory.  I heard that someone referred to this as the Cannonball Run of superhero movies, and that's pretty close to the truth when you see the full cast list.  The Bowler (Garofalo) talking to her father's skull inside her bowling ball is hilarious.  Paul Reubens continues to take thankless roles and make them worth his time with the flatulent Spleen.  And Rush is having more fun that should be allowed by law. 

A ton of fun, I recommend this movie without reservation for comic book lovers and "What's a comic book?" people alike.  Can't wait for the sequel.