In the Summer of 1998, a film entitled "Mystery Men" was released. Billed as a superhero comedy, the film was marketed as little more than a "Batman" clone. It was a critical and financial flop. First-time director and commercial God, Kinka Usher has gone on to make no other feature film. Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens is once again hiding out in obscurity. Hank Azaria of "The Simpsons" fame has dissapeared from major live-action movies (though, after "Godzilla," that may not be such a bad thing).
In the whenever of 2000, "The Specials" was released. It had a budget 1/200th the size of "MM." Its director, also a first-timer, had absolutely no directional experience whatsoever. Its writer was some guy from Troma. Its biggest stars where a guy who was big in the 80's and a guy from "Wings."
Ironically enough, this is the film that "Mystery Men" so desperately wanted to be.
I love this movie. And while I also enjoyed "Mystery Men" (I think it was just too ahead of its time), it doesn't hold a candle to "The Specials." This is the film that people that loved "Spider-Man 2" will enjoy whole-heartily. This is also the film that people that hated "Spider-Man 2" will enjoy whole-heartily. For the love of Christ, go out and purchase this film immeadiately!
The Specials are the seventh (or eigth) best super-hero team in the world. They are lead by the Amazing Strobe (played pitch-perfectly by "Sideways" star Thomas Haden Church). His wife, Ms. Indestructible, is having problems (as is just about every other member: Minute Man [that's My-noot Man] is having problems with his name as well as his costume, Mr. Smart is just a hack, U.S. Bill is simply retarded, bad-boy Amok is a dick, and their newest member, Nightbird, has some issues with her... rather interesting super powers). But, without a doubt, the member with the biggest skeletons in his closet is The Weavil (played by Rob Lowe)... plus he happens to be "fucking The Strobe's wife."
The plot is not the main concern (though, for what it's worth, it involves the unveiling of a line of Specials action figures that all adds up to one of the funniest sequences in the film). Written by "Dawn" '04 scribe, James Gunn (whom also stars as Minute Man), the script is quick-witted, clever, and, most of all, hillarious. First-time director, Craig Mazin does an admirable job (considering the whole thing was filmed in 19 days, he did a fantastic job).
The acting is perfect; the brothers Gunn pull off their roles distubingly well (brother Sean plays the mentally damaged Alien Orphan), Judy Greer is great as the deadpan and slightly depressing Deadly Girl, Jim Zulevic delivers his lines perfectly as the too-smart-for-his-own-good "smartest man in the world," Mr. Smart, Kelly Coffield is great as the slightly moronic Power Chick, "Ed" writer, Mike Schwartz is hillarious as the very moronic U.S Bill, and Jamie Kennedy is the ultimate funny asshole as the blue-skinned, Nightcrawler look-alike, Amok. And, finally, in one of the more enlightening scenes of the film, the super-hero known as Eight (he/she/they are eight bodies sharing the same mind) is beautifuly played by... well eight people, though the main body is portrayed by 80's band "X" front man, John Doe.
There's really nothing more to say. Sure the SFX towards the end of the film aren't so hot and not all of the gags are winners, but "The Specials" does have one things that most movies lack nowadays: heart. You can tell that everyone involved was a big fan of the source material. The love and work that went into this picture is evident on every frame. I love this fucking movie!
Movie: **** out of ****
DVD Extras: ***1/2 out of ****
Though this is being billed as a "Special Edition," it only really adds one special feature to the already pretty-loaded earlier DVD released in 2001. The new feature is a second (somewhat boring) audio commentary from actor/writer James Gunn and actress/Sean Young look-alike, Paget Brewster (Ms. Indestructible). Carried over from the original release is a great commentary from director Craig Mazin, producer Mark Altman (of "House of the Dead" "fame"), and, again, actor/writer Gunn. There is also over ten deleted scenes (all of which, in a rarity, are worth watching) and a photo gallery. A great deal, though, if you have the first edition of the DVD already, it may not be worth a double-dip.