With all of the Marvel and DC movies coming out these days, this film should have been a monster success. The only problem is, it came out when superhero movies were just getting started. Had this been released in 2009 instead of 1999, after X-Men, Spider-Man, Superman Returns, and Iron Man all came out, audiences would have gone crazy over this lovable group of wannabe superheroes who have to save the day when real superhero, Captain Amazing, is captured.
Certainly few movies boast a murder's row of actors such as this movie did. William H. Macy was hysterical as family man The Shoveler, Hank Azaria's Blue Raja was a master of throwing forks (never knives), Janeane Garofalo (back when she was likable) was The Bowler, Kel Mitchell as Invisible Boy (who can only turn invisible if no one is watching), and even Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens was a riot as The Spleen, who took passing gas to a whole new level.
The ringleader of the group is Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) who seems to become the focal point of the movie more than anyone else. I thought it a bit ironic Stiller would trash this film given most of the scenes that annoyed me involved him, although he does redeem his role by movie's end.
The group of supervillians is impressive as well, led by Geoffrey Rush as Casanova Frankenstein and Eddie Izzard and Pras as the two Tonys. Even Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) isn't much in the way of a superhero to the Mystery Men, given how condescending he acts towards them and how full of himself he is. Kinnear did provide a great performance there, no question.
If you're a fan of what Marvel is putting out these days, this movie will make you laugh and cheer for the good guys.
