“We’ve got a blind date with Destiny, and it looks like she’s ordered the lobster.” —The Shoveler
Today’s quick review: Mystery Men. Looking for a boost to his reputation, Champion City’s greatest superhero, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear), arranges to have his old nemesis Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) released from the mental asylum. But when Frankenstein proves too much for Amazing, it falls to three wannabe heroes—the Shoveler (William H. Macy), the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller)—to save the kidnapped superhero.
Mystery Men is a superhero comedy that follows a team of aspiring superheroes as they struggle to make a name for themselves in crime-ridden Champion City. The movie takes affectionate aim at the conventions of the superhero genre, from the cynical celebrity of Captain Amazing to the ineffectuality of the Mystery Men to the tawdry gimmicks of heroes and villains alike. However the movie’s pervasively weird tone makes it hit-or-miss as a comedy.
To its credit, Mystery Men does get a lot out of its cast. Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, and Ben Stillare all put in strong comedic performances at the head of an ensemble cast that includes Janeane Garofalo, Geoffrey Rush, and Eddie Izzard. The misfit heroes are not handled perfectly, and their sheer lack of talent raises questions about the plot logic. But Mystery Men does earn its laughs, and largely thanks to their enthusiastic performances.
As far as its setting, humor, and tone go, Mystery Men suffers from the same problem: flashes of creativity offset by the bizarre slant to the whole thing. The humor is often crude, the set and costume designs are deliberately tacky, and even the camerawork uses unusual angles. So much of the movie’s comedy is tied up in the parodic nature of its characters that it never builds up much momentum, although the plot is otherwise well-structured.
As such, Mystery Men makes for a divisive comedy. Fun performances, a decent story, and a steady stream of jokes are enough to make it an enjoyable watch for those who can overlook its strangeness. But those looking for a clean, sharp, or memorable parody will be disappointed. For a better-developed superhero comedy, check out Megamind. For a tamer, more kid-friendly one, check out Sky High.
6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for good performances and creativity held back by its offbeat tone.