Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageMystery Men (1999)
Director: Kinka Usher
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Usher's amiable spoof of superhero movies takes a brave stab at rewriting the mythology from the inside out, with lots of witty, mildly subversive stuff about working class heroes, commercial sponsorship of celebrities and casual depictions of violence. The Mystery Men are blue collar wannabes who live in the shadow of Captain Amazing (Kinnear). However, when the Amazing One's nemesis, Casanova Frankenstein (Rush), turns the tables on him, the proletarian underdogs recruit some new blood and bring their unique superpowers to bear on the situation. While commercials director Usher's visual style is polished, it is less frenetic than one might expect; indeed, the steady pacing and muddy storytelling are the movie's chief weaknesses. The lavish set designs are a little too busy, and the effects sequences sometimes more eye-dazzling than effective. But Usher's heart is in the right place, as is obvious from the flawed hero figures, pacifist undercurrents and likeable, downbeat performances.Author: NF
Cast & crew
Director: Kinka Usher
Producer: Lawrence Gordon, Mike Richardson, Lloyd Levin
Cast: Hank Azaria, Claire Forlani, Janeane Garofalo, Greg Kinnear, William H Macy, Kel Mitchell, Lena Olin, Paul Reubens, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Stiller, Wes Studi, Tom Waits, Eddie Izzard, Jenifer Lewis full cast
Genre(s): Comedy
Duration: 120 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now