Special (2006)

A lonely comic book fan, Les Franken, has a reaction to medication and becomes convinced he's a superhero.

Directors:

Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore

Writers:

Hal Haberman, Jeremy Passmore

Stars:

Michael Rapaport, Paul Blackthorne, Josh Peck

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Rapaport	...	Les
Paul Blackthorne	...	Jonas Exiler
Josh Peck	...	Joey
Robert Baker	...	Everett
Jack Kehler	...	Dr. Dobson
Alexandra Holden	...	Maggie
Ian Bohen	...	Ted Exiler
Christopher Darga	...	Steve
Michael Shamus Wiles	...	Cop #1
Erich Anderson	...	Newscaster
Karyn Bryant	...	Co-host
Trish Nelson	...	Pregnant Teen (as Patricia Ann Nelson)
Franc Ross	...	Crackhead
Marc Schaffer	...	Gorcery Store Mugger (as Marc Shaffer)
Amanda Carlin	...	Mugging Victim

Storyline

LES FRANKEN (Michael Rapaport) leads a painfully unremarkable life as a metermaid until he enrolls in a drug study for an experimental anti-depressant. An unexpected side effect of the drug convinces Les he is developing special powers and must quit his job to answer his new calling in life - Superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else.

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Plot Keywords:

looking at oneself in a mirror | supernatural power | superhero | medication | force field | 

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Taglines:

He's not your ordinary superhero.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some violence and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Especial

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,232, 23 November 2008, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$6,387, 30 November 2008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rival Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[first lines]
Les: [voice-over] I used to dream about flying. It went the same way every night. I realized that I could fly. No that's not quite right, I realized that there was no reason I *couldn't* fly, and after that I'd float off the ground and soar above the city. But I haven't had that dream in a while now. Lately, I dream about more ordinary things, like doing my laundry, or shopping for groceries, or riding on elevators. I wonder why that is?

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Connections

References When Animals Attack! (1996)

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Soundtracks

Face Tomorrow
Written by Trey Johnson
Performed by Sorta
Courtesy of Summer Break Records

User Reviews

Good.

Honestly, this movie is in no way funny - although it could have been, and although it sometimes really made the impression that it was somehow intended to be funny. But it was just tragic. And what was really annoying, was the soundtrack, which was so entirely depressing and really got me close to turn off the movie at times, because it added such a thoroughly negative atmosphere. I couldn't help thinking "if anyone laughs at this, they have a serious empathy problem". Plus i believe, because of the way the story was told and the emotional bias thats created, this movie really drowned somehow. And it surely could have been, fore-mentioned negatives put aside, a pretty good one.