Mystery Men (1999)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Kinka Usher

Writers (WGA):

Bob Burden (comic book series by Dark Horse)
Neil Cuthbert (written by)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

This summer expect the unexpected

Plot:

A group of inept amateur superheroes must try to save the day when a supervillian threatens to destroy a major superhero and the city.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Bowling | Spleen | Sphinx | Rajah

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Hank Azaria	...	The Blue Raja
Janeane Garofalo	...	The Bowler
William H. Macy	...	The Shoveller
Kel Mitchell	...	The Invisible Boy
Paul Reubens	...	The Spleen
Ben Stiller	...	Mr. Furious
Wes Studi	...	The Sphinx
Greg Kinnear	...	Captain Amazing / Lance Hunt
Geoffrey Rush	...	Casanova Frankenstein
Lena Olin	...	Dr. Annabel Leek
Eddie Izzard	...	Tony P.
Artie Lange	...	Big Red
Pras	...	Tony C. (as Prakazrel Michel)
Claire Forlani	...	Monica
Tom Waits	...	Dr. Heller

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for comic action violence and crude humor.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:PG (cut) | Finland:K-10 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:MG6

Filming Locations:

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens - 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, USA

Company:

Dark Horse Entertainment

Trivia:

According to the DVD commentary, the scene where The Spleen (Paul Reubens) accidentally ignites a blast of flatulence standing by a barrel with a fire in it was a happy accident. Apparently, a crew member had tossed a plastic lighter in the barrel. It happened to explode (a small explosion, but an explosion none the less) while filming Reubens. The reactions that followed were created after the fact, capitalizing on the moment caught on film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Sphinx clearly cuts Tony P, Tony C, and the Disco Boy's guns in half, immediately in the next shot we see that the guns have not been cut in half, but have simply had their slides removed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Heller: [offering an old lady candy at the Senior dance] Would you like something sweet?
Old Lady: [impressed] Oh!

Movie Connections:

References The Terminator (1984)

Soundtrack:

Leonard's Lounge

Who Says Superheroes Have To Be Super?

In the history of movies based on comic books, "Mystery Men" is one of the most underrated ones. This is no regular comic superhero movie! It follows the exploits of a motley crew of well-meaning wannabes, which include Mr. Furious (played by Ben Stiller), the Bowler (Janeane Garofalo), the Shoveller (William H. Macy), the Blue Rajah (Hank Azariah) and the Spleen (Paul Reubens). "Mystery Men" spoofs several aspects of superhero movies like "Superman" or "Batman," such as the pithy sayings, and the questions about secret identities. Most of the superheroes aren't billionaires like Bruce Wayne, but blue-collar types with menial jobs and neurotic home lives. So it looks as if director Kinka Usher is making the heroes into something the average viewer can relate to. I found "Mystery Men" to be visually stimulating and very funny. Even if it doesn't turn into a franchise, it's still a joy to watch!