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

Selfish
Written by Elia Einhorn
Performed by The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir
Courtesy of Fashion Brigade Records

User Reviews

Funny, emotional, great!

Best movie at the Austin Film Festival. One of the best movies of the year. Funny, emotional, and one of the few recent movies that is generally unpredictable.

Michael Rapaport is brilliant. He has a subtlety about him that I did not expect from his TV show, "The War at Home." He has scenes of great physical comedy, and emotional scenes that nearly brought a tear to my eye.

I don't want to give away anything about the story. The log-line gives all the information for you to know what the movie is about. Seek this movie out. Take your friends with you.

It is too easy for us to just exist throughout our lives. It is up to us as individuals to make ourselves truly Special.