MYSTERY MEN (1999)

[zacharythax]

Although positive reviews abound now on the internet, when it came out I can't remember anyone having anything good to say about this goofy fantasy-comedy about a cadre of superheroes who may or may not have actual superpowers. In a Blade-Runner inspired city the Red Eye gang (led by Artie Lange) break into a party at an old folks home (where Tom Waits is trying to pick up women). The Shoveler (WIlliam H. Macy), Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) and The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) bungle their attempt to foil the robbery until Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) heroically jumps in (covered with corporate logo patches like a NASCAR driver). He gets his arch enemy Casanova Frankenstien released from prison because he's already killed all the other super-villians and needs a big fight to keep up his publicity and get endorsement deals. CF chloroforms Captain Amazing so the trio recruit The Spleen (Paul Ruebens) who was the original Fartman and the Invisible Boy (he can only turn invisible when no one is looking) There's a pool party where they try to recruit more superheroes where The Shoveler's wife says, "If anyone vomits in my pool I'm divorcing you." "That's fair." Jeannine Garofolo shows up with her father's skull inside a bowling ball (which flies around with the help of some now-cheezy CGI FX) 

They get drunk and get jumped by the Disco Boys (one of which looks a lot like Ricky from Trailer Park Boys). They laugh and go "That's your power? You have guns?" but get saved by The Sphinx (his power is he's "terribly mysterious") who trains them all the time spouting formulaic sayings like "When you doubt your powers, you give power to your doubts." Mr Furious rolls his eyes and takes off to visit a hot/weird looking waitress (Claire Forlani) They break into CF's mansion (which looks like it was designed by Antonio Gaudi) to try to rescue Captain Amazing, but accidentally kill him. They visit Tom Waits where he demonstrates his non-lethal weapons (like the blame thrower--don't ask!) and there's a moving speech about "There's no cavalry coming. We're it." They crash in and somehow everything works out. 

From the director of the "Got Milk" commercials. Based on a comic book that was a spinoff of the ultra-obscure Flaming Carrot by Bob Burns. With Louise "Mary Hartman" Lasser. 

[John Battles]

iT COULD HAVE BEEN  ONE BEN STILLER SHORT OF A VERY GOOD CAST. I ONLY SAW IT RECENTLY. DID'NT DIG IT TOO MUCH , BUT , I COULD SEE WHY OTHERS WOULD.