PG-13, crude humor/violence
Starring: Ben Stiller,
Hank Azaria, Paul Reubens,
William H. Macy, and Claire Forlani.
Writer: Bob Burden, Neil Cuthbert,
and Brent Forrester.
Director: Kinka Usher
Producer: Lawrence Gordon,
Lloyd Levin, and Mike Richardson.
Rating: 77%
Even though Mystery Men does a nice job in creating a cool, superhero
spoof type atmosphere, it just seems to be missing a certain "umph."
It's missing "the stuff, the essence, the life-force... a certain french..
I Don't Know What." Yes... Mystery Men seems to be missing it's mojo.
It does deliver a few quick laughs, a few good giggles, and even a HA HA
here or there. However, it lacks a fresh approach and many of it's
jokes appeared forced, and strangely rehearsed. Mystery Men is a decent
movie I do admit; however, these so called "Mystery Men" are only
second class.
It takes place in the infamous Champion City where Captain America is
the big cheese. However, he seems to be more interested in his
corporate gain, rather than fighting crime and evil it-self. In the end,
with Captain American captured and Champion City in parel, it's up
to the MYSTERY MEN to save the city, and it's beloved hero. Togeather,
the joint forces of The Shoveler, The Spleen, The Invisible Boy, The Bowler,
The Blue Raja, and Ben Stiller as a guy who just gets... mad, they battle
the forces of evil, and well, I don't want to tell you if they succeed or
not! That would ruin the... "surpirse." But anyway, it's simply about
these wannabe superheroes and their conquest to be the best.
The fact that it's a fairly enjoyable movie is a victory in it-self. I
mean, come on. When was the last time we've seen a super hero movie
that's not gay? However, I must say that I didn't really like the
movie's style. It seemed inconsistant in that, one second, it's for kids,
and the next second, it's for an older audience. What I did like however,
was the beautiful panning of Champion City. Something they should've
kept up throughout the entire movie, but was just dropped and forgotten.
No offense, but what's up with the Spleen? Don't get me wrong here,
because I'm not against... those types of jokes. But please! If you're
going to do fart jokes in the first place, at least make them funny!
The Spleen was just disgusting. Almost more disgusting than Fat Bas.
I mean... ewww! Gross! Not one of his jokes sent a ripple through
the audience. Even the excellent supporting cast couldn't bail him
out of this one. I mean, the film was generally good. But if they had
kept that cast down to just a few less people, it might have been
great.
Mystery Men is fun. It's enjoyable. But generally, if I could go back
and see a different movie, I probrably would. I am probrably one of the
biggest Ben Stiller/Janeane Garofalo fans. But as good as they may have
been, along with others like the Blue Raja, and the Shoveler, the script
just wasn't good enough for these great talents to pull it off.
