A Film about Supporting Characters from an Independent Comic that somehow was given $68 million! If you adjust for inflation, it is around $130 million in today's money!
Mystery Men is a 1999 Film based on, as mentioned, Supporting Characters from the Flaming Carrot Comic Series.
They couldn't afford to actually use the Title Character, but oh well!
The Plot involves a bunch of would-be Superheroes trying to rise to the occasion when the big-time Hero falls. The result is manic, crazy and pretty funny.
While it was made in 1999, it is still a firmly '90s Film, featuring Greg Kinear, Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo, Hank Azaria, William H. Macy, Geoffrey Rush and Paul Reubens.
Hell, even Tom Waits is in this one!
Sadly, the Film is most famous for introducing the World to the song 'All-Star' by Smash Mouth. Should it be known for more?
Let's find out...
A team of criminals- lead by Artie Lange!- try to rob an Old Folks Home.
A trio of wannabe Heroes- The Shoveler, Mr. Furious and The Blue Raja- try to stop them.
This doesn't end smoothly.
The City's big Hero- Captain Amazing- shows up and saves the day!
He's a Corporate Superhero, literally wearing company logos on his outfit like a NASCAR Driver.
He's told by his Agent that he's going to lose Sponsorships because Crime is TOO down and he's not exciting anymore.
As such, he uses his dual identity to free an old Archnemesis- Cassanova Frankenstein (Rush)- from an Asylum.
This doesn't end smoothly.
One of the 'heroes' finds out that he's been kidnapped and tries to get more Heroes to their cause.
They get The Spleen- who has targeted farting-, Invisible Boy- who can only be invisible when nobody is looking- and The Bowler- a lady who throws around a semi-anthropomorphic bowling ball that contains her dead dad's skull.
All-Star!
The team is also aided by The Sphinx (Wes Studi) who teaches them how to be better, while also talking in obvious riddles to sound smart.
'If you can't learn to master your fear, your fear will become your Master.'
That kind of thing.
They also get Tom Waits's Scientist to make them gadgets for the big night!
They find the captured Captain Amazing.
They try to save him.
This doesn't end smoothly.
Now they have to rise up and save the day, as the weapon that killed Amazing will be turned on the City!
We get one Scene of them sewing and twenty minutes later- boom- new costumes for the finale!
The Finale is broken into a series of vignettes to let everyone shine.
Invisible Boy's power works!
The Shoveler wins a fight.
The Bowler gets her revenge.
Mr. Furious also manages to save his love interest- Claire Forlani, who is just here to be chill and then be captured- from Frankenstein, tossing him into his own device.
In the aftermath, the News all shows up and the team struggles to come up with a name.
Thankfully, this Reporter does it far smoother than in Fant4stic.
I can't wait to see them in...oh right- this Film lost over $30 million.
Never mind- The End.
A Film that is really damn silly and fun. Is there more to this?
In a word? No.
They act like the message is 'These guys have heart and that's why they are heroes.'
Cool- so why did they have to learn brand new skills and change dramatically then? It is one OR the other, right?
In any event, the Film is a great time capsule in all of the best and worst ways.
According to Wikipedia, this one was greenlit in 1997 along with about 50 other Comic Books, most of which eventually came out eventually (Sorry,
Concrete).
This one features MANY CGI Shots of the City and they...don't look great. Just use Scale Models, guys and gals!
If you buy into the Film's silly charm and attempt at heart, it is a fun watch. Will someone ever approach this again?
Maybe a gritty reboot with an aged Stiller and Macy struggling to find a place in the world?
Probably not.
Enjoy these very dated cameos instead.
 |
| Anyone remember Dane Cook? |
*******
 |
| This Film's Director and Michael Bay did 'Got Milk' commercials, so... |
Next up, let's stick to the same Decade, but otherwise do a complete tonal shift. It is a serious Film and it...actually won an Oscar?!? Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment