For a movie that seems to be spoofing such comic-book based action films as "Batman," etc., "Mystery Men" is a delightful change of pace.
"Mystery Men" is about a handful of wannabe superheroes who live in the shadow of the sponsor-ridden Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear).
The story has Captain Amazing's publicity beginning to wane, so he urges his publicist to find something that may put him back in the spotlight. But he comes up empty handed.
So, in hopes of revitalizing his career, Amazing releases one of his arch nemeses, Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush), so he'll have a real rival to battle. His plan backfires, however, when Casanova takes him prisoner and the gaggle of wannabe superheroes plots to save him — primarily to make a name for themselves (though they never can decide on what to call their group).
Among this group, no superhero shines above another, though some powers are more effective than others: The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) fights crime with cutlery, The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo) uses a possessed bowling ball, The Shoveler (William H. Macy) wields his shovel like a battle ax, Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) can only become invisible when nobody's watching, The Spleen (Paul Reubens) can aim his bodily emissions with pinpoint accuracy and Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) uses anger to his advantage.
Also in the cast are musician-turned-actor Tom Waits as a weapon inventor and Wes Studi as The Sphinx.
For the most part, this movie works. Using bright colors and inventive costuming, it generates a very comic booky, futuristic feel. As with the "Batman" movies, there is no real period or place; "Mystery Men" is not set in one era over another.
The cinematography involves enough rapid zooms and close-ups to induce motion sickness, though those of Mr. Furious screaming himself into a rage work best — he constantly battles his feelings of inadequacy, a sort of intensified "short-man's syndrome."
Toward the end, the story loses steam as the spaces between the jokes seems to get longer and longer. And there is a very unfunny and unnecessary joke involving The Spleen and a love-hungry skunk.
Still, what's most appealing about a movie like this is that it gives try-hard superheroes actual human emotions. The Blue Raja won't throw knives, because that's too cruel. The Shoveler continues to shovel despite almost losing his family over it. They're heroic to a degree but bicker enough to be second cousins to Seinfeld.
"Mystery Men" is rated PG-13 for mild language, flatulence humor and violence.