The Specials (2000)

The sixth or seventh best superhero team in the world pursue their rightful place in the harshly competitive world of toy tie-ins and fighting evil.

Director:

Craig Mazin

Writer:

James Gunn

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Paget Brewster

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jordan Ladd	...	Nightbird
Rob Lowe	...	The Weevil
Jamie Kennedy	...	Amok
Mike Schwartz	...	U.S. Bill
Thomas Haden Church	...	The Strobe
Paget Brewster	...	Ms. Indestructible
Kelly Coffield Park	...	Power Chick (as Kelly Coffield)
Sean Gunn	...	Alien Orphan
Judy Greer	...	Deadly Girl
James Gunn	...	Minute Man
Jim Zulevic	...	Mr. Smart
Johnny Mountain	...	News Anchor
John Doe	...	Eight
Abdul Salaam El Razzac	...	Eight
Lauren Cohn	...	Eight

Storyline

America's 7th Best Superhero Team, the Specials, are a group of geeks and oddballs. We get to see one day in their lives as fan and new member Nightbird joins the group, just in time for the group to get a new line of action figures. But the members' extreme personalities and personal issues threaten to rip the group apart.

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Plot Keywords:

superhero | non comic book superhero | superhero team | action figure | toy | 

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Taglines:

They're Not Incredible, They're Just Special

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elbaltázott szuperhősök

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,131, 24 September 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$12,996, 1 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, Mindfire Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Both Judy Greer and Jamie Kennedy filmed this movie around their Three Kings (1999) schedule.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Nightbird: I've been a humongous fan of the Specials since I was knee-high to... something for sure. All my friends would make fun of me because the Specials were not a "cool" group like the Amazing Trio or the Crusaders. But, you know, screw that. I also liked Winger better than Bon Jovi. I still do. I don't care what the critics say.

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Crazy Credits

During the end credits we see an "In Memory: 1970-1993" reference and picture of Mr. Stretch, an original member of the Specials that we are told died of mouth cancer in one of interview segments.

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Connections

References Freebie and the Bean (1980)

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Soundtracks

Grandmaster
Written by BMF (as Greg Lentz)
Performed by BMF
Courtesy of Mephisto Records and Om Records

User Reviews

What's not to like?

It's a funny superhero movie with a dance number and no displays of superpowers. Either that concept appeals to you, and you'll love this movie, or it turns you off, and you'll hate it. I've always been curious what a superteam does on a slow day, now I know.