Rating: 
Summary: I LOVED IT !
Review: I LOVED THIS MOVIE! THIS FILM IS ABOUT 7 WANNABEE SUPER-HEROES THAT HAVE REALLY WEIRD POWERS. I LIKED THE BLUE RAJA AND THE SPLEEN THE BEST. THE SPLEEN, WHO USES FLATULANCE TO BRING DOWN CRIME IS 1 OF THE BEST CHARACTERS. BUT THE BLUE RAJA IS REALLY THE BEST
Rating: 
Summary: The "Superfriends" meets "Diner"
Review: After watching the trailer for MYSTERY MEN, I decided it wasn't for me. It looked derivative, unrewarding and stupid. But, as is often the case, the trailer is a marketing campaign not created by the filmmakers. So, MYSTERY MEN is a pleasant surprise.The celebrity CAPTAIN AMAZING succeeds in another rescue that was unsuccessfully attempted by second-rate superheroes MR FURIOUS, THE SHOVELLER and THE BLUE RAJA. The three beaten heroes meet as always in the local diner for a Seinfeldian conversation about their plight. How will they ever make the big time? When CAPTAIN AMAZING is captured by his arch-nemesis CASANOVA FRANKENSTEIN, they seize the opportunity. They hold auditions to fill their ranks and in the world were superhero wanna-bes are a dime a dozen, they come out just short of empty handed. Joined by THE SPLEEN, THE BOWLER and THE INVISIBLE BOY the group set out to save the world! These are superheroes for the HMO world. Whereas the BOWLER (Wonderful Jeneane Garafolo) is dead solid perfect when hurling her bowling ball and THE SHOVELLER (William H Macy) is a wiz with a shovel, the other superpowers are not so easy to put your finger... or pull your finger in the case of THE SPLEEN. THE INVISIBLE BOY claims he can only be invisible when nobody is looking at him and the BLUE RAJA (who wears no blue) throws silverware as quick as silverware puns. MR FURIOUS (Ben Stiller) is the hardest of all, his power is...well he doesn't have a power but he gets real angry. So whenever pretty-boy CAPTAIN AMAZING (sharp Greg Kinnear) is on the scene, he deservingly gets all the press and sponsors. Sure, this is a comic action film, but it is the droll comments by the talented cast that keep this film away from a pun fest. An argument over CAPTAIN AMAZING's true identity is a good example. Millionaire Lance Hunt wears glasses, CAPTAIN AMAZING doesn't. How could CAPTAIN AMAZING see if he is in reality Lance Hunt? With their secret meeting point (the local diner), the MYSTERY MEN seem more a community theatre then the world's saviors. The DVD has some nice extra features including a director's commentary, CD-ROM material and a couple documentaries, one that traces the MYSTERY MEN back to their comic book roots. The film has a great audio and widescreen video transfer.
Rating:
Summary: Time For Alternate Superheroes To Fight With a Vengeance
Review: If Gotham City can boast of two masked guys in cape, Champion City has its own pride in Captain Amazing in costumes with tied-in products (actually very funny Greg Kinnear in dead serious mood). But now he is foolishly captured by vengeful Casanova Frankenstein (played by Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush in good comic style), so now, it is the time for our B-list superheroes to save the city !! The most amazing part of "Mystery Men" is that this original idea is carried out by the first-rate cast. Let me introduce those brave actors one by one, who are reckless to wreck their precious caree..., I mean, their neck in this joyfully off-beat action-comedy. Hank Azaria, as the Blue Raja, whose speciality is to throw folks (and his domineering mom is Louise Lasser)
William H. Macy, as the Shoveller, who is good at using you know what (and in fact pretty good too)
Ben Stiller, as Mr. Furious, who can display his great power only when he is angry. To add these principal heroes, you can see: Janeane Garofalo, as the Bowler, whose deadly bowling ball contains her father's skull (don't ask)
Kel Mitchel as the Invisible Boy, who is invisible only when nobody is watching him
Paul Reubens as The Spleen, who got a very stinking gaseous weapon to use
Tom Waits as Dr. Heller, an inventor of non-lethal weapons
Wes Studi as The Sphinx, whose leadership is often hindered by his redundant advice, making a good example of tautology. Plus, you see even Eddie Izzard and Lena Olin (but their parts are both too small). The action scenes are competently done, and the production design and special effects are both decently made. The film sometimes takes itself too seriously (making some remarks on life, no, no), but when it gets into its actions, it gives lots of fun to us. Oh, and I almost forgot to say that lovely Clair Forlani appears, but not as the Wonderwoman or something (shame, I expected that). Instead, you can see Michael Bay (yes, THAT director) as a frat boy, and he is even given a line to say! THE VHS SPECIAL EDITION has a 10 minute behind-the-scene footage featuring the interviews of the cast and crew. its reveals how Janeane Garofalo throws this heavy ball across a swimming pool, and it's a surprisingly simple trick. Funny.
Rating: 
Summary: (2-1/2 stars) It's a mystery why anyone would watch this
Review: When I first saw the commercials advertising Mystery Men, I looked at the clips and decided it was one of those movies that I didn't care if I saw or not. But after it left theaters and went to cable, some part of me wanted to see it suddenly. Well, it turns out that part of me had serious issues. This movie wasn't planned well. Apparently director Kinka Usher (WHO?) took a top hat, filled it with celebrities' names, and randomly selected some, hoping everything would work out. He came up with people such as Ben Stiller, Greg Kinnear, Janeane Garofalo, Kel Mitchell, Paul Reubens, Hank Azaria, and Jenifer Lewis. (The bad guys are played by rappers, including Pras Michel and every member of Goodie MoB.) But we can't place all the blame on Usher. We also have to point out Neil Cuthbert, the brainiac that wrote the script. (He based the script on the comic book series, but honestly, has anyone ever heard of Mystery Men comics?) None of the aforementioned celebs are bad actors, but you have to have a good script for a good movie, too. Basically the movie is about the do-gooder Captain Amazing who gets captured by Casanova Frankenstein. Three bumbling wannabe superheroes called The Blue Raja, The Shoveler, and Mr. Furious decide that rescuing Amazing is their big chance to prove to the city that they're not screw-ups. But they don't think they could do it on their own, so they decide to enlist other superheroes. After countless auditions, they decide on The Bowler, The Spleen, The Sphinx and Invisible Boy. They all have very bland and predictable (to me) powers...for example, The Bowler can throw a bowling ball, and Invisible Boy can become invisible. These powers may not seem like a problem to some people, but the terrible script added to it turns it into a problem. I really don't understand why this movie is rated PG-13. It should have been rated PG. Sure, there was a little violence, but it was mild, comedic (supposedly) violence. By the way, the humor was very sophomoric and generic at best. I understand now why this movie was pulled from theaters so quickly. If you would like to play another round of "How Many Funny Celebs Can You Find In The Wack Movie?" check out The Royal Tenenbaums.
Rating: 
Summary: Sci-fi spoof is ditzy fun
Review: Mystery Men is an affable and gentle spoof of super hero movies. As entertainment, it does not succeed as well as we might like it to, but it has one big plus going for it, which is a low level of violence. It's perfectly okay for kids. Sadly, it's lack of body count and gore may be a prime reason that it tanked at the boxoffice. The story takes place in a city very much like Batman's Gotham City. The resident super hero here is Captain Avenger [Greg Kinnear], who, by day, is the local billionaire. Batman may be driven by inner psychological angst to do what he does, but Captain Avenger does it solely for the glory. He even has corporate endorsements. His ratings, so to speak, are down at the moment. It seem he has already put most of the nasty bad guys away. To put his career back on the fast track, he arranges to have the evil Casanova Frankenstein [Geoffrey Rush] released from the insane asylum. When this villain tries to wreak havoc on the city, Captain Avenger will save the day. He will also put himself back on top. Or so he thinks. In the city, there is a ragtag group of guys who desperately want to be super heroes themselves. They wear funny costumes and have given themselves strange names. They are Blue Raja, The Shoveler, The Invisible Boy, The Spleen, and Mr. Furious [Hank Azira, William H. Macy, Kel Mitchell, Paul Reubens, and Ben Stiller]. They seem to bungle ever attempt they make at saving the day. After they are joined by The Bowler [Jeanane Garfolo] and The Sphinx [Wes Studi], they become a bit more focused. When Captain Avenger is kidnapped by Casanova Frankenstein, who is planning to unleash a giant ray gun on the city, The Mystery Men's day has come. For once, a stellar cast seems to have done more harm than good to a movie. We are used to seeing many of these actors in more meaningful and less mainstream pictures. For example, William H. Macy is best known for his role in Fargo, while Geoffrey Rush hit his career high in Shine. Greg Kinnear delighted us in As good As It Gets. I am not suggesting that actors should not work in a variety of genres. I am saying that we do not expect to see certain performers in such middle-of-the-road fare, because their presence raises the audience's expectation level a great deal. In that sense, Mystery Men does not deliver. This is basically a comedy, and it has a good number of laughs. Hank Azira, Paul Reubens and Greg Kinnear are especially funny. The action is fairly fast-paced, and the sets are clever and colorful. As you might expect, Mystery Men will appeal primarily to those under eighteen. Adults will find it tolerable.
Rating: 
Summary: just about the worst film ever made
Review: This has got to be the worst movie ever made. Plenty of money and talent in a film dubbed as a comedy. Timing was abysmal. Some of the concepts in the story were brilliant, but the comedic timing was the worst... a full cast of chimpanzees would have had a better chance at getting laughs. The only way this film would be funny would be if one was totally under the influence of alcohol... once your senses are dulled enough, the comedic timing should be just about right. Awful.
Rating:
Summary: Mystery is the word for it.
Review: Mystery Men it definately the right name for this movie. It is a Mystery that such a script could be written. It is a Mystery that so many solid performances should come out of such a weak script. It is a Mystery that so many good lines could come out of this movie, particulary for comic book guys like me: (Roy: He takes his glasses off when he changes identities, Ed: If he did that he couldn't see!) It is a Mystery that the plot device to get the villian out is so weak (I.E. Why does a multi millionare care about endorsements?) It is a Mystery how so many weak characters are pulled off so well. It is a Mystery that you could get such a group of good performers to act in this film, (they are mostly "B" actors, but none are bad actor) It is a Mystery that the villian is so much fun. It is a Mystery that we don't see more of Hank Azara who is much better that he ever gets credit for. It is a Mystery that Kel Mitchel is even in this movie, Other than one scene he does nothing. It is a Mystery where Louise Lassiter (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) has been all these years. It is an even bigger Mystery why she chooses this picture to come back into view. It is no Mystery that the great mystic hero is played by an American Indian actor. Chris Eyre is proven right again. If you don't enjoy this move (just too many good performances)it will be a Mystery, but if you do enjoy it (Just too odd a script and story) the mystery will be why?
Rating:
Summary: A Hilarious bag of superheroes
Review: The first time I saw this movie, I nearly died of laughter! This film is hilarious!
The futuristic Champion City is home to three outcasts who use creative "powers" to fight crime. Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller)uses his rage, The Shoveler (William H. Macy) uses a shovel, and The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria)uses forks. However, the only thing they ever do is get their... kicked, ALOT. On top of that, the Blue Raja wears green. The rich Captian Amazing (Greg Kinnear) also Lance Hunt, is the beloved superhero. Eager for publicity, he releases the worst supervillan of them all: Cassanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush). He captures Amazing and plans on ruining Champion City. Aided by the Disco boys, Frankenstein stops Mr. Furious and friends from saving their rival, so they call in recruters. The Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchel) who only becomes invisible if he isin't seen, The Spleen (Paul Reubens)
who uses flatuates, and The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), who uses her dead father's spirit in a bowling ball.
The group is not experienced, however, and neary killed. They are saved by the famous superhero from the south, The Shpynx (Wes Studi). He trains the Mystery Men and gives them new costumes. While trying to save Amazing, the dudes accidently kill him. The ending his exciting and funny.
Rating:
Summary: mystery junk
Review: i liked ben stiller BEFORE this thing came out, but now i cant stand him after watching this movie. its really bad and doesnt have one laugh in it at all. i saw this in the theaters thinking 'this is gonna be funny, ben stillers in it' but nope. i took a nap halfway through it and was thoroughly disappointed. i liked theres something about mary, i liked meet the parents, but it seems like he comes out with one good movie (something about mary) and follows it up with an utterly horrible and retarded movie (zoolander). ben stiller needs to go back to his failed fox sitcom
Rating:
Summary: More fun than funny
Review: "Mystery Men", based on the Dark Horse comic series, is set in Champion City, one of those darkly and surreally sinister cities that we see in movies based on comic books like Batman. The Mystery Men themselves (never referred to by that name) are the cities 2nd string heroes. With Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the "Blue Raja" (Hank Azaria) and "The Shoveler" (William Macy in a great deadpan performance) - the team is barely able to avoid the derision of the local police. The attention goes to Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). With his jetpack and killer gadgets (Captain Amazing's secret identity is millionaire Lance Hunt), Amazing wipes Champion City clean of its more spectacular villains, leaving only second-rate criminals not worthy of his attentions or those who seek his celebrity endorsement. (Champion's costume is so be-studded with corporate logos, it looks less like a costume than an entrant in NASCAR). Hoping to boost his image, Amazing arranges for the release of the insane Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), knowing that the mad scientist will touch off a crime spree requiring Champion's special talents. Instead, the now released Frankenstein traps Champion in his lair, touches off a crime spree and readies a horrific weapon against the city. With nobody else able to stop the crazed Frankenstein, the Mystery Men step into the fray, but not before going on a talent search for new heroes to add to the team. Soon, The Shoveler, Mr. Furious and Blue Raja are joined by the Bowler (Garofolo, whose character is armed with a bowling ball encasing the head of her murdered father), The Spleen (Paul Ruebens, whose power makes him, shall we say, unpopular), Invisible Boy, and the mysterious Sphinx (Wes Studi - the joke is that his power is never really explained, but his lines consist mostly of pseudo-Zen howlers like "If you doubt your powers, you will empower your doubts" or "Control your anger or your anger will control you"). A spectacular first strike against Frankenstein is followed by a disastrous foray into the madman's house where the team learns the awful plans the villain has for the city. The problem with the movie is that it's a lot of fun and looked like a lot of fun to make, but remains conspicuously not very funny. There are no real jokes, and the script doesn't do much with their ineptitude. Though the story is supposed to show how the losers become a team, they remain mostly one-note. Macy does little more than remain deadpan despite the sheer preposterousness of his with his character, while Garofolo seems to run on being perpetually confrontational. There's no chemistry between them and the evil Frankenstein even though he's the best person to know what losers they are. At one point, when Frankenstein's weapon is revealed, the film turns downright scary, but then isn't sure whether to become a dark superhero movie or an action flick or try to regain it's earlier dark comedy. Still worth a rental.
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