Genres

Visitors Review

Ref 2012-05-19 10:14:27

The humor wears thin, the plot wears out.

Good performances by William H. Macy, Hank Azaria, Janeane Garofalo.Acceptable stabs by Paul Reubens and Kel Mitchell. Ben Stiller'sportrayalof Mr. Furious was unfunny, irritating, and ultimately pathetic. I can'tbelieve Geoffrey Rush agreed to do this movie - as the villain he stinks,but in fairness is given little to make his character memorable (a lousyGerman (?) accent and deadly fingernails? Come on!) Greg Kinnear asCaptain Amazing was good enough to be forgettable. As I sat in thetheaterwatching I found myself thinking "Nope....nope... sorry" every timeanotherjoke or predictable visual gag played (or replayed). To me the realmysteryof "Mystery Men" is that audiences are apparently sitting through it andaren't getting up to go to the snack bar, the restroom, or to the boxofficeto ask for their money back.

Emerenciano 2012-05-18 23:29:20

Too fool to be taken seriously.

This is certainly one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. Thestory is dull and film itself bores us to death. This would make you get upand do something else, but they great cast saves the day. First-rate actorGeoffrey Rush and good ones like Janeane Garofalo, William H. Macy, BenStiller and Claire Forlani are here to make we watch the movie until theend. That's all about it.My Rate 5/10

2012-05-15 20:32:53

Hysterical and very Art Deco!

This film is really special. It's not some low budget comedy movie but it's a mix between Batman, Seinfeld and Austin Powers, an overall bizarre combination! I really like the part when Stiller jumps on the badguys' car and tries to scratch the label off! LOL! If you really want to give yourself a break and indulge in some innocent childish fun you should watch this movie.

2012-05-15 13:24:28

Disco is not dead.

The movie promised much and didn't really deliver. However I did find enough amusing moments to make the film watchable. Rush is excellent as the villain and the stretch stingring is kinda cool. But for me the coolest thing had to be the disco gang. A gang of evil thugs who are all into disco. The movie is silly but that is really the point. Don't take yourself too seriously is the catch cry of this film and for that reason alone give it a watch.

Neil Welch 2012-05-09 11:41:48

Funny if it fits

Let me say that if you're not in tune with this movie, you're going tohate it.It tells the story of a group of super-heroes (in a world where someindividuals are blessed with super-powers) whose powers are, to put itgenerously, extraordinarily lame. Fortunately, even though they dotheir best to help by banding together, their help is not neededbecause their city has a resident super-hero. Less fortunately, due toa mishap at their hands, he dies, and they have to come into their ownto fight a super-villain.This delightfully loopy movie is blessed with a first rate cast. Theyplay the material absolutely straight, and the movie is all the betterfor that (insofar as you can play straight the idea of someone who canturn invisible, but only when no-one is looking).I don't like the expression to "get" something. Nonetheless, I think itfits here - if you get Mystery Men, then you'll love it and, if youdon't, you won't.

Robert B. Marks 2012-05-09 03:28:39

A very funny and light movie...

This is one of those movies that is a highlight of the summer. Verylight-hearted and funny, it is a superhero movie about those heroes who arein the background, "superhero wannabies". It is a hysterical spoof ofBatman and just about every other superhero around.Right from the get-go, the movie has laugh after laugh. Along with somevery good verbal humour there are some excellent sight gags. All in all,this is one of the few movies I have seen so far this summer that has beentruly worth the price of admission. 4/5.

2012-05-07 08:20:54

Cpt. Furious is my Hero

This is a silly movie that looks at crime fighting from a different point of view. Hank Azaria is wonderful and Stiller and Macy are great as well. Filled with odd little quirks and tons of laughs, this movie will entertain most. If you are a fan of Ben Stiller then be sure to see this movie.

2012-05-06 15:10:24

lamo

Good direction not wasted a great cast and my time. I found it so bland as if some A sexual comic book geek was given millions of dollars to make a movie, and probably spent to much time in his basement doing god knows what. My 8 year old son was also board with this one. My one star rating is because the sound track was good.

2012-05-05 13:29:06

An Interesting Cast Makes the Film Better

With all honesty we know this film would have been like gum underneath a shoe if it hadn't been for the cast. The story is nonexistent, the dialogue a joke and the plot...well you get the picture. The best part of Mystery Men is how the cast is so colorful they come together to rescue what would otherwise be a disastrous movie. This is not a film you can easily recommend to anyone. It's not a film that's so black and white you can classify it so it's truly up to people's tastes whether they should see it or not. I bought it in 1999 and have watched it about ten times since then. It's a good film to watch if you're bored but I can't say it's so wonderful you should run out and buy it. Just wait to see it on television. You'll enjoy it better when you save your money. It's entertaining even if the story centers around a bunch of funny, yet weird morons.

2012-05-04 17:45:05

Stinker

Another movie I hoped would be funny, but really wasn't. When I saw the trailer, I said to myself "that's a movie I'd like!" It was not to be.Ben Stiller is miserable, William H. Macy made a bad career decision, and the rest of the cast seemed like they really wanted to be elsewhere!

MrPC 2012-04-28 03:17:12

Should be called "StraightToCable Men"

I went into this movie knowing only that Ben Stiller (who I like) was init.I was pleasantly surprised when Janeane Garafolo and William H. Macy alsoturned up, but...the script was just too weak for this talented cast to domuch with it.The basic problem was that it's too predictable; it follows a verystandardarc (think "Ghostbusters"). Flatulence and special effects can't fix thefact that there's not a single original idea here. Note to Hollywood: thepop culture irony thing's dead.

2012-04-27 21:33:09

Don't take it too serious

Just like any comedy you can't take things to mental. Think of it in terms of a Superhero version of Napoleon Dynomite, Better off Dead, or Strange Brew. Just a story of some misfits trying to find their place in the world, and in the process not screw it up too bad.If you go into it looking for a Lord of the Rings, Batman type story where the world is normal with these few laughs mixed in you are in the wrong place. This is bizarroland. Always something odd going on in every corner of the movie. Right from the start it throws you into the oddest scene in the movie, an old persons party, with syncronized power wheelchairs, and blue haired old grannys. It starts to normalize (if you can call it that) as the movie goes on.The would be hero's are frustrated that their powers are second rate, but they believe in each other, and in what they are doing. Not saving the world, but saving their corner of the block. Thier eyes are on the prize of the big save.It was great.

2012-04-27 09:39:05

More fun than funny

"Mystery Men", based on the Dark Horse comic series, is set in Champion City, one of those darkly and surreally sinister cities that we see in movies based on comic books like Batman. The Mystery Men themselves (never referred to by that name) are the cities 2nd string heroes. With Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the "Blue Raja" (Hank Azaria) and "The Shoveler" (William Macy in a great deadpan performance) - the team is barely able to avoid the derision of the local police. The attention goes to Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). With his jetpack and killer gadgets (Captain Amazing's secret identity is millionaire Lance Hunt), Amazing wipes Champion City clean of its more spectacular villains, leaving only second-rate criminals not worthy of his attentions or those who seek his celebrity endorsement. (Champion's costume is so be-studded with corporate logos, it looks less like a costume than an entrant in NASCAR). Hoping to boost his image, Amazing arranges for the release of the insane Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), knowing that the mad scientist will touch off a crime spree requiring Champion's special talents. Instead, the now released Frankenstein traps Champion in his lair, touches off a crime spree and readies a horrific weapon against the city. With nobody else able to stop the crazed Frankenstein, the Mystery Men step into the fray, but not before going on a talent search for new heroes to add to the team. Soon, The Shoveler, Mr. Furious and Blue Raja are joined by the Bowler (Garofolo, whose character is armed with a bowling ball encasing the head of her murdered father), The Spleen (Paul Ruebens, whose power makes him, shall we say, unpopular), Invisible Boy, and the mysterious Sphinx (Wes Studi - the joke is that his power is never really explained, but his lines consist mostly of pseudo-Zen howlers like "If you doubt your powers, you will empower your doubts" or "Control your anger or your anger will control you"). A spectacular first strike against Frankenstein is followed by a disastrous foray into the madman's house where the team learns the awful plans the villain has for the city.The problem with the movie is that it's a lot of fun and looked like a lot of fun to make, but remains conspicuously not very funny. There are no real jokes, and the script doesn't do much with their ineptitude. Though the story is supposed to show how the losers become a team, they remain mostly one-note. Macy does little more than remain deadpan despite the sheer preposterousness of his with his character, while Garofolo seems to run on being perpetually confrontational. There's no chemistry between them and the evil Frankenstein even though he's the best person to know what losers they are. At one point, when Frankenstein's weapon is revealed, the film turns downright scary, but then isn't sure whether to become a dark superhero movie or an action flick or try to regain it's earlier dark comedy. Still worth a rental.

2012-04-26 22:50:30

Good for a chuckle, little else

The best thing I can say about "Mystery Men" is that I did not injure myself getting it out of my DVD player. It has good direction and set design, and decent performances, but far, far too few funny bits to support it's running time. Perhaps if you watch the movie in 30 minute segments it won't be so bad but if you do it all in one sitting you will be bored. There are definitely some entertaining parts but they are buried under lots of dull set-up. A good movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon where there is not so much pressure to get all of one's entertainment from "Mystery Men" alone.

lambiepie-2 2012-04-20 09:25:53

Another cute idea...so what didn't work?

This was one of the best ideas to come along in a while: to feature agroup of 'super heroes' who weren't that 'super' and 'majestic' butevery day kinda heroes..to a degree...more or less.Films like 'Metor Man' and 'Blank Man' also tried a similar formula anddidn't catch on very well either. But this one, "Mystery Men" had abetter chance, and tried to go the dark humor and campy way - maybe notdark enough or campy enough and turned out sillier than expected. Buttruly this is NOT a bad thing, but not a good thing for a film overall.The most noticeable cast that didn't work for me was Ben Stiller as Mr.Furious. It played camp - dull camp. I didn't care much for PaulRuben's Spleen character either - just another excuse to throw inimmature "fart jokes" wherever possible.Casts that worked better was Jeanne Garafalo as Baby Bowler, HankAzaria as the Blue Raja, and William H. Macy as the Shoveller. KelMitchell as the Invisible Boy was working until we were still left indoubt (to me... just to plug in a genital joke) and Wes Studi as theSphinx character was fine. But I felt something was still missing withall of these too.So why did I give it a "7"? The best character cast with the materialas given was Casanova Frankenstein as played by Geoffrey Rush - a greatlook into 'pre-Barbossa'. A must not miss. Played ridiculously, campyand chewing the scenery every time he appeared ...but what a hoot! Byadding in the horrible "Disco Boys" gang with this performance, it wasfunny as all send ups can be....and yes, Eddie Izzard's performance asTony P. was so dead on for a 20 years past 'disco boy' -- these werethe only times I laughed when these characters appeared on the screen.Now, there is something to be said about Greg Kennear and his CaptainAmazing's character. As far as working with what he had, it was a goodperformance. Where they took this 'hero' and why was a fine touch butthe rest of the film didn't seem glue tight around it.This is not to write this is a bad film and not worth your time. You'llprobably get amused here and there depending on your humor level. It isnot a 'bad' film but not as great as it ... could have been. It's likeknowing you have bunch of 'A' students working on material you assumewill be an 'A' but turns out to be a 'C'. Why? You have no firm reasonand can't put your finger on it, you just know it could be better.So I propose...do a sequel. Should be interesting considering a few ofthese folks in front and behind the camera are now Emmy and Academyaward nominated and/or winners. They may or may not be interest insomething like this anymore. No matter...a fresh new group of 'MysteryMen' with fresh folks may just do the trick.

daved-3 2012-04-19 12:47:09

Better than Batman

Mystery Men is as visually impressive as the early Tim Burton "Batman" filmsbut with more thought in the scripting process. It finds just the righttone between reality and the fictive universe where superheroes exist. Theactors seem to be having fun, and it's infectious. Greg Kinnear does agreat job as the square-jawed Capt. Amazing, and the rest of the cast(particularly Ben Stiller and the always wonderful Janeane Garafalo)aremarvelous. I'm surprised the rating for the film isn't higher--in a summerof disappointments, this stands out as one of the best films of thesummer.

richardroma76 2012-04-14 14:00:13

One of the Funniest!

I have absolutely no shame in declaring that 'Mystery Men' is one of myalltime favorites. There is so much going on in this movie that it requiresmultiple viewings to catch all of the jokes. The cast is just amazingwithspecial accolades going out to Hank Azaria as 'the Blue Raja', GeoffreyRushas 'Casanova Frankenstein' and who could forget Ben Stiller as 'Mr.Furious'. The look of the film is great, resembling some sort of bizarroworld Gotham City with even more bizarre villains. There is also so manymemorable quotes in this that I could go on and on reciting them untilsomeone slaps me. When this was released in 1999, it opened with littlefanfare and was considered a flop. That's too bad because it really is awonderful parody of the whole superhero genre and shouldn't be missed. 10out of 10.

2012-04-14 07:37:57

Cult Classic

This review is from: Mystery Men (DVD) Silly, funny, a cult classic in my opinion. Wanna be superheros who's "powers" are questionable fumble their way through victories and losses against the bad guys.

Sean Gallagher 2012-04-14 04:10:44

Fun send-up of comic superheroes

Though I can't claim to be a comic book fanatic, I have read my share, so Iguess I'm part of the audience of this film, and I wasn't disappointed. Itdoes run out of steam near the end, it's almost overflowing with ideas, andit seems like Lena Olin, one of my favorite actresses, was left on thecutting room floor. Also, a little of Hank Azaria's Blue Raja can go a longway. Still, it's easy to forgive all of these faults when you have a filmwhich is this much fun. All the actors seem to be having a blast with theirroles, especially William H. Macy as the straight-arrow Shoveler, andJaneane Garofalo as The Bowler. And unlike some, I found the design of thecity to make the joke even funnier. I also liked how disco was the music ofchoice of the bad guys; somehow, it seemed appropriate.

2012-04-13 19:39:41

mystery junk

i liked ben stiller BEFORE this thing came out, but now i cant stand him after watching this movie. its really bad and doesnt have one laugh in it at all. i saw this in the theaters thinking 'this is gonna be funny, ben stillers in it' but nope. i took a nap halfway through it and was thoroughly disappointed. i liked theres something about mary, i liked meet the parents, but it seems like he comes out with one good movie (something about mary) and follows it up with an utterly horrible and retarded movie (zoolander). ben stiller needs to go back to his failed fox sitcom