DVD Review

Details

Mystery men (R1)

2 Hours 2 Minutes

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Cast

Hank Azarva Blue Raja
Janeane Garofalo Bowler
William H. Macy Shoveler
Kel Mitchell Invisible Boy
Paul Reubens Spleen
Ben Stiller Furious
Wes Studi Sphinx
Greg Kinnear Captain Amazing
Geoffrey Rush Casanova Frankenstein

Synopsis

Champion City has been cleaned up of all its villains by Captain Amazing, an obnoxious superhero covered in advertising....He's bored, so he decides that his alter-ego is going to get Captain Amazing's arch-enemy Casanova Frankenstein released from the loony-bin. 

Film

Unfortunately for Captain Amazing, he underestimates Frankenstein and gets captured leaving it to the most unlikely of heroes to save the day. However, our would-be heroes don't get to the best of starts when, during their daring rescue, they manage to kill Captain Amazing. 

With the streets no longer defended, and crime returning to the city, it is left to the group that is only known as "The Mystery Men" to save the day and defeat In step "The Mystery Men" a ragtag bunch of so-called superheroes with such powers as "getting annoyed", throwing forks and spoons (no knives though!) and the piece de resistance of the film...."The Spleen"...He farts....big time!

You can't help but like this film...Okay, its a one-joke film (courtesy of "The Spleen") but it is funny and does have some great moments, Stiller banging on Frankenstein's car roof whilst the rest do all the hard work, and "The Blue Raja" accidentally killing Captain Amazing after a huge mix-up regarding the number of times a switch had been flipped. 
Its no surprise though that Garofalo plays a woman with a problem, talk about typecast. Still her character is sort of likeable and happens to be about the only really dangerous one....Would you like to be hit by a possessed bowling ball?

Picture quality wise this film had the potential to be a disaster considering the number of dark scenes, but gladly it isn't with superb colour definition and pin sharp resolution. Things don't get much better. Sound is also used well, with good use of surround and is as clear as a bell.

A colourful, fun film then with an okay script, it has some good extras though...

Extras

  • Spotlight on Location
  • Feature Commentary with Director Kinka Usher
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Universal Soundtrack Presentation
  • Music Highlights
  • The Origin of the "Mystery Men" Comic Book Characters
  • Production Notes
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • DVD-ROM Features
Reviewed by: Paul
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