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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Craig Mazin (written by)
Release Date:
28 March 2008 (USA) more
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. | full synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(89 articles)
But What Mark Millar Really Wants to Do is Direct
(From Beyond Hollywood. 2 November 2009, 8:32 AM, PST)
‘Scary Movie 5′ might be dead and we’re okay with that
(From Reel Loop. 21 October 2009, 12:23 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
With great parody comes great responsibility more (146 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Superhero! (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, comic violence, drug references and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
75 min | 82 min (extended edition)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
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). more
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. more
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.
more
Soundtrack:
Superbounce more
FAQ
What are the differences between the theatrical version and the Extended version of the movie?more
more (146 total)
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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.