Unsung Heroes (2003)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Bret Simmons

Writers:

Wesley Freitas (writer)
Bret Simmons (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A crew of documentary filmmakers set out to find superheroes in Orange County, CA. Razor Boy and Frisbee Guy are what they found: two superheroes stopping crime in Old Towne Orange...when it shows up...if at all.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero

Cast

John Desrosiers	...	Mime
Peter Eykemanns	...	Phillip Bexley
Wesley Freitas	...	Frisbee Guy
Ben Glibert	...	Klepto the Clown
Bret Simmons	...	Razor Boy

Runtime:

USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Chapman University - One University Drive, Orange, California, USA

Company:

Storyteller Pictures

An above average mockumentary with sporadic hilairious moments

I first saw this film at a screening at ComicCon in San Diego in 2003 where it had its own private screening room specifically for its showing. The producers wisely issued posters to each member of their crew and patrolled the Convention Center urging all to see their mockumentary. Basically, my friends and I went merely to reward their impressive advertising efforts.

Throughout the opening sequence (in trailer form to fast-paced music) we still did not know quite what to expect as we were introduced to the two "heroes" of the film, Razor Boy & Frisbee Guy, and the main super villain/sidekick duo of The Clown and the Mime. What really impressed me right off the bat was the fight choreography of the film during the first five minutes. Unfortunately, since the rest of the film is just gags and frisbee attacks, the early display of fight choreography merely got our hopes up.

As previously mentioned, the film IS a mockumentary and thus, much of the dialog and interviews are clearly improvised along a pre-planned direction. This works to an adequate effect most of the film, but really seems to work better with Razor Boy's character, who skillfully (maybe) maintains a dopey, immature persona through the entire film. The Clown, far and away the best improviser, is an absolute hoot and really seems to carry the film at parts. He is almost so funny that you really don't know whether you WANT to hate him as a villain.

The Film is shot on a college campus in Orange, CA with only a single XL-1 or GL-1 miniDV camera and it really shows. With almost no visible budget to complete this film, however, the production team has really done a good job pulling it all together. We ended up buying a copy from the filmmakers after the screening and still pop it in occasionally. It may seem a little long to some, but the "laugh out loud" moments throughout the film keep you wanting more.