Mystery Men

1999 Action/Adventure

Can seven not-so-superheroes save a city of the future? Based on the comic book series created by Bob Burden, Mystery Men is set in the teeming metropolis of Champion City, where noble superhero Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) keeps the peace and sees that justice is done. When Captain Amazing mysteriously disappears, his archenemy Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) sees his opportunity to seize power and bend the city to his evil will, with his associate Dr. Annabel Leek (Lena Olin) at his side. However, Casanova will not succeed without a fight, as the The Mystery Men leap into action. The Mystery Men are not your ordinary Men of Steel; in fact, they're barely superheroes at all. Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) has one gift: throwing tantrums. Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) is a deadly hand with spoons and forks (but not knives). Shoveler (William H. Macy) can dig with superior speed and force. The Bowler (Janeane Garafalo) rolls the ball with superhuman precision. Spleen (Paul Reubens) has a gaseous problem that he's turned into a weapon against evildoers. Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) is convinced he can become invisible at will, but he hasn't actually done it yet. And The Sphinx (Wes Studi) does have an unusual power: he can cut metal objects with his mind. Aided by addled gadget master Dr. Heller (Tom Waits), the Mystery Men make their move against Casanova and Annabel, who feel just threatened enough to make things personal by kidnapping Mr. Furious' girlfriend Monica (Claire Forlani). Mystery Men marked the feature directorial debut of Kinka Usher, who previously directed such ads as the Taco Bell talking chihuahua and the Dairy Association's "Got Milk?" more..

Director: Kinka Usher

Starring: Hank Azaria,Ben Stiller, Janeane Garofalo,William H. Macy, Greg Kinnear

Reviews

  • Maybe it's no mystery how they did it, considering the aggregate comic talent, but this bunch achieves peaks of sublime nuttiness.

    Bob Graham - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • Gleefully, goofily over-the-top.

    Marc Savlov - Austin Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • They're a ragtag assembly for sure, and the results aren't pretty. But on a simple mission of entertainment, they get the job done.

    Mark Caro - The Chicago Tribune

    26 April 2013

  • This hip send-up of the superhero lifestyle has a bunch of great comic bits from a group of great, eccentric talents, but not enough bourgeois discipline to see the story through.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    26 April 2013

  • This loving parody is steeped in comic book trivia and lore: The more you know, the more heartfelt your response to the film is likely to be.

    Maitland McDonagh - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Costumes

    Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films (2000)

     
  • Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role)

    American Comedy Awards (2000)

     
  • Film - Choice Hissy Fit

    Teen Choice Awards (2000)