8/8/99
Mystery Men stars Hank Azaria as Blue Raja, Janeane Garofalo as Bowler, William H. Macy as Shoveler, Kel Mitchell as Invisible Boy, Paul Reubens as Spleen, Ben Stiller as Mr. Furious, Wes Studi as Sphinx, Greg Kinnear as Captain Amazing, Geoffrey Rush as Cassanova Frankenstein, Tom Waits as Doc Heller, Eddie Izzard as Tony P, and Louise Lasser as Violet.
Mystery Men is a tongue in cheek movie about super heroes. It seems that Captain Amazing's popularity is down in the ratings. He has to do something to get back his appeal. He's cleaned up all the villains. His publicist suggests breaking his worst enemy, Cassanova Frankenstein, out of a mental hospital so that Captain Amazing has a worthy foe. It backfires as Captain Amazing is captured. There is hope, however, in the form of lesser super heroes who travel in the shadow of Captain Amazing. Shoveler, Blue Raja, and Mr. Furious are a group of lesser heroes who vow to save Captain Amazing and lock up Cassanova Frankenstein. That's the plot!
To accomplish this task recruitments for other lesser heroes are held. The group immediately picks up Spleen and Sphinx. The others are recruited at a pool party. Bowler and Invisible Boy are added to the group. Sphinx becomes the spiritual as well as the training leader of the group. After adequate training in the fine art of Nietzscheisms. They go to save Captain Amazing and capture Cassanova Frankenstein.
Mystery Men has some good characters. The acting is good. William H. Macy is excellent! The dialog is missing the great lines that exist in other great spoofs, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein.
I give it 3 out of 5 finger nails: