Well folks, looks like another positive look at MYSTERY MEN, this time by the omnipresent LHS (that's lazy typing for Light House Shines).... There are a few SPOILERS in his review, but not many, and at least as far as I could tell, they wouldn't seem major.... But, given I've refused to read this script, and have managed to stay fairly in the dark on it.... well... They didn't seem like major spoilers. Well.... here goes the Light House Shines....
Finally yet another comic book successfully adapted into a major motion
picture besides Blade, that loses precious little in the
transition from printed page to celluloid. A miraculous feat in itself
that I would like to personally thank God for! Especially since most
movies of a similar ilk are simply not worth the film they are printed on,
as they are always vapid uninspired spectres of their respective funny
book origins. Something Mystery Men is luckily very quick to
disprove after only a few opening scenes, where the audience is treated to
an almost too rich and oh so incredibly stylish world full of bright
colors and even brighter sounds. That I would have to argue help make
Mystery Men one of the most impressive as well as successful
onscreen representations of what a comic book could or really
should look like to date (If only everything therein took place in the
real world). As I found myself almost entraced with everything my eyes
could get a lock on, from such simplistic items as the masterfully crafted
chairs that adorned a particular room in a particular scene. To the
majestic way the wannabe super heroes wore their garish costumes, all with
a sense of pride that far succeeded anything any character in any
Batman film ever displayed.
One of this films greatest strengths, actually taking the
comic book material and campy surrounding seriously enough to make
the entire film believable from beginning to end( A rare quality
that Blade also had, albeit in a different way). For you truly
could feel the desperate urgency the hapless character in Mystery
Men had to prove themselves real honest to God super heroes, in the
eyes of a city that soley worships the enigmatic Captain Amazing.
Champion City's only true (commercially endorsed) super hero, whose
legendary heroic accomplishments the Mystery Men forever feel in
the shadow of. That is until Captain Amazing is kidnaped by his recently
released arch nemesis Dr. Casanova Frankenstein. Excellently played by
Geoffrey Rush, who had the just the right amount of balance between
psychotic madman and evil genius, without going too much over the top (
Another drawback of the majority of onscreen super villainy, just think
Poison Ivy and Mr. Freeze). Thus giving the makeshift band of do gooders
the perfect opportunity to prove themselves real heroes, in the eyes of
everyone who ever thought them insignificant or unworthy of carrying on in
the tradition of the beloved Captain Amazing. Essentially the
film's entire plot, aside from improving their efficiency as a crime
fighting unit.
Which brings us to the unfortunate downside of this film, just as one of
your loyal readers already point out, the trademark post screening
questionnaire forms where not delved out like so many cards in a poker
game. Thus denying the audience and myself the valuable opportunity to
critique the films very few weaknesses, which I actually was looking
forward to. Since this was a very well done and earnest little film, that
can and should most definitely work with just the right kind of tinkering
that only a true fan of the spandex clad comic book world could offer.
Such as the obvious underutilization of several key characters, who I
personally feel deserved more screen time and/or subsequent character
development than they were sadly given. The most notable of the bunch
being Janeane Garofalo's Bowler character, one of the film's best would be
heroes ( The skull of her deceased father was placed within her bowling
ball, imbuing it with supernatural properties). Who also offered some
of the film's best lines and finer comedic moments, especially after her
character is revealed to have actual conversations with her deceased
father at length. Making her appear to be somewhat insane, a truly magic
moment in the film ( Sorry for spoiling that bit, but it is a really funny
scene).
Still despite the minor nuisances of various characters and plot lines
going unexplored, the film as a whole is still very solid ( The film's
incredibly powerful visuals really help a lot!). Not to mention highly
enjoyable, even for those who do not fully understand or appreciate all
things heroic as it were ( Which is actually a lot more people than you
would think). Specifically due in part to the very talented cast who all
work well together or in some cases with what little they were given to
work with from the getgo ( Once again a gripe about character and subplot
development, which I will let go of now). Readily evident in the chemistry
that select groups of characters shared between one another. For I know
that I certainly enjoyed the interactions between William H. Macy's
Shoveler character and that of Mr. Furious ( righteously played by Ben
Stiller who seems to have been born for this role). Almost equally as much
as the frank banter exchanged between Mr. Furious and that of the Bowler,
who obviously experienced a similar history in real life that naturally
lent itself immensely to their onscreen characters love hate relationship
( Think of a bickering brother and sisters). All of which supersedes any
little flaws the film has at present, since this is a film about a comic
book after all. And as such some things are naturally not going to
translate well to the big screen 100%, though I think they still did a
remarkable job overall, which is Okay by me. Since I can live with the
film just the way it is if I have to, although here's hoping that there
will be some (positive) changes before the film's official August 6th
release. So everyone can get just as much out of this film as was
surely intended, since an obviously large amount of effort definitely
went into making this film and it shows.
Light House Shines
Sincerely,
Light House Shines
