Superhero Movie (2008)

Director:

Craig Mazin

Writer (WGA):

Craig Mazin (written by)

Release Date:

28 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

The greatest Superhero movie of all time! (not counting all the others)

Plot:

Orphaned high school student Rick Riker is bitten by a radioactive dragonfly, develops super powers (except for the ability to fly), and becomes a hero. |

Plot Keywords:

Dragonfly | Hero | High School | Insect Sting | Hit By Car

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 17	6:30 PM	SHOW
Wed. Nov. 18	5:45 AM	SHOW

Cast

Drake Bell	...	Rick Riker
Sara Paxton	...	Jill Johnson
Christopher McDonald	...	Lou Landers
Leslie Nielsen	...	Uncle Albert
Kevin Hart	...	Trey
Marion Ross	...	Aunt Lucille
Ryan Hansen	...	Lance Landers
Keith David	...	The Chief of Police
Brent Spiner	...	Dr. Strom
Robert Joy	...	Dr. Hawking
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Dr. Whitby
Robert Hays	...	Blaine Riker
Nicole Sullivan	...	Julia Riker
Sam Cohen	...	Young Rick
Tracy Morgan	...	Professor Xavier

Also Known As:

Superhero! (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, comic violence, drug references and language.

Runtime:

75 min | 82 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-13 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44303) | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:12A | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:6 | Germany:12 | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | New Zealand:M | UK:15 (Re-edited Version) | USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Norway:10 (TV rating) | Norway:11 | Iceland:7 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

Michael Papajohn, who plays the mugger who ends up gunning Rick's parents down, originated the role of Carradine - the man who steals Uncle Ben's car after shooting him - in Spider-Man (2002).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Rick Ricker checks his symptoms on the Internet, the dialog box shows the question "It's okay, you can tell me the truth. I'm a Doctor" with no options. The camera switches to Rick's face, then back to the computer with an option on the screen.

Quotes:

Dr. Whitby: So, what brings you here?
Rick Riker: My uncle.
Dr. Whitby: Your uncle brought you here?
Rick Riker: No, he's gravely injured.
Dr. Whitby: Well, he shouldn't be driving, then.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Scarface (1983)

Soundtrack:

Superbounce

With great parody comes great responsibility

If "Superhero Movie" gives you the same giddy, guilty-pleasure feeling as "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies, it's no accident. Some of those movies' personnel – who were also involved in two lesser "Scary Movie" sequels – show up here. (Those include writer-director Craig Mazin, who happily has come a long way from 1997's abysmal "Rocketman.")

The movie's title says it all. It's a comedy that takes a well-known hit (in this case, "Spider-Man"), turns it inside out, and uses it as a clothesline for gags. In this parody version, nerdy Rick Riker (amiable Drake Bell of cable-TV's "Drake and Josh") gets bitten by a mutant dragonfly, turning him into...well, take a guess. Meanwhile, a well-meaning scientist (Chris McDonald) turns nasty when his experiment backfires and he finds he must sap others' life-blood in order to keep himself alive.

As is typical of such parodies, the movie's approach is as subtle as a spitball gun. Some of the gags are terrific, and some are groaners. But they're all fired at such a rapid pace that after a while, you have no choice but to give in to the silliness. The characters are like shooting-gallery ducks waiting to have parody lobbied at them. Best of the bunch are Rick's well-meaning but dotty uncle and aunt (delightfully played by Leslie Nielsen and "Happy Days'" Marion Ross). The most pitiable is a take-off on disabled genius Stephen Hawking, who seems to push Mazin's bad-taste button over and over ad nauseum.

This leads me to the movie's most required caveat. While the flick is mostly silly fun, it pushes its "PG-13" rating right up to the edge of the "R" cliff. The movie is larded with sexual gags and profanity abound, and what might possibly be cinema's longest-ever flatulence gag.

But if you can bear up under the cringe factor, "Superhero Movie" is mostly high-powered fun. Nifty comedy here runs neck-and-neck with bad taste. It's a close race, but the comedy wins.

"Superhero Movie" is rated PG-13 for countless sex and drug references, crude humor, and adult language.