Plot: What’s it about?
In Champion City, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) is the top dog when it comes to super heroes. But when his arch rival Cassanova Frankenstein (Geoffery Rush) makes parole thanks to a lull in work for Amazing, the good Captain ends up in the clutches of Cassanova and his Disco Boys. With Amazing held hostage, who will protect the city, and who will rescue Amazing? Well, that’s where a trio of wanna be’s comes in. Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), The Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), and The Shoveler (William H. Macy) are dead set on becoming top notch super heroes, but they usually end up getting their asses kicked. After a failed attempt to save Amazing, they agree they need to add some new talent to their roster. Quickly, Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) and The Spleen (Paul Reubens) join the team, and a super hero try-out reveals that The Bowler (Jeneane Garofalo) is the logical next member. But thye eventually realize they need a leader, so The Sphinx shows up, and down the road they add weapons designer Heller (Tom Waits). With a full team of hopefuls, they set off to Cassanova’s place, in search of Captain Amazing. But Cassanova has assembled all the crime gangs and it won’t be easy for our heroes. Can they implement the might sword of teamwork and the hammer of not bickering, and restore peace to fair Champion City?
Mystery Men was all but forgotten in the theaters, critics hated it and exit polls were dismal. I went to the movies to see it, and I have to admit, it was one of my favorite movies from 1999. It is filled with hilarious lines and comic book style, and the visuals are excellent. The movie has a very comic book feel, with bold lines and stunning backgrounds. Also, the color is juiced about three levels, so colors are rich and full, and blacks are deep and solid. The director, Kinka Usher, has done a fine job of giving this movie a comic book look and feel, which all the more sets the tone for the heroes in the film. Another thing I really liked about this movie are the costumes, which are also comic book like, with bulky pads and tons of accessories. The costumes are also rich in color, and full of detail. If for no other reason, you check this film out because of the excellent visual style, it’s truly amazing. This HD-DVD edition doesn’t offer a massive improvement, but a solid step up and since all the supplements have been brought over, there’s no reason not to upgrade.
In addition to the breathtaking visuals, Mystery Men sports one of the finest comedic ensemble casts I have ever seen. With a large cast like this, chemistry could be off, but all the actors are in tip top shape, and turn in rock solid performances. Ben Stiller (The Cable Guy, Reality Bites) is hilarious as Mr. Furious, who relies on his “boundless rage” for his power, which is pretty much yelling and banging his fists on things, then getting knocked out. Hank Azaria (Godzilla, Heat) plays The Blue Raja, who plunders his mother’s silverware for weapons to throw with deadly accuracy, but only forks and spoons, no knives. Kel Mitchell (Goodburger) stars as Invisible Boy, who can turn transparent, but only when no one is watching, he can’t even look at himself! Janeane Garofalo (Now and Then, 200 Cigarettes) is The Bowler, who uses a bowling ball with her dead father’s skull inside as her weapon. As soon as she’s avenged her father’s death, she’s going back to graduate school, no matter what her father’s skull says. Paul Reubens (Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) plays The Spleen, who thanks to a gypsy curse, always produces near lethal gas when he farts. William H. Macy (Fargo, Mr. Holland’s Opus) is The Shoveler, who is a dedicated father and husband, who can “shovel well.” Thier super villian, Cassanova Frankenstein is played by Geoffery Rush (Shakespeare in Love, Shine). Also starring are Greg Kinnear, Tom Waits, Lena Olin, Claire Forlani, and Wes Studi.
Video: How does it look?
Mystery Men is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie has vibrant visuals, so I figured the colors would be even bolder in high definition and I was right. The hues here look terrific, with great saturation and vivid presence, so the comic book style visuals really shine here. As far as detail, I do think this is a notch above the standard release, but don’t expect eye opening type depth, as you won’t find it. But there is more clarity and detail, in addition to the more impressive color scope. So the movie looks great here, a real treat for the eyes.
Audio: How does it sound?
The soundtrack here is quite active and the Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 option ensures all those sounds come through, with a very immersive presentation. The film’s pop rock soundtrack is alive and well, with a lot of life in the surrounds, but the real draw is when the action kicks into gear. The fight scenes pack a lot of punch, with deep bass and good sound effects, so you might feel like you’re throwing hands with the rest of the boys. I wouldn’t compare to this a balls out action movie, but for what it is, the audio is dynamic and it all sounds quite good here. Dialogue is high quality, always clear and audible, never overshadowed by the effects or music, so overall, a solid soundtrack. This disc also includes a French language track, as well as subtitles in English and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This HD-DVD includes all the supplements found on the previous disc, so fans can rest easy knowing all the goodies have been ported over. A running commentary by director Kinka Usher is included, and it is a fun listen. He tells about some deleted scenes, casting choices, and other making of anecdotes. For a first timer, he does a good job of keeping the commentary flowing, and he even has a sense of humor, pointing out flaws in his own movie. A behind the scenes featurette is also on the disc, and it’s full of interviews and other footage during the film’s shooting. Ben Stiller has some very funny moments on this featurette, and it’s worth a watch, but a little short. A reel of deleted scenes is also included, which I think are excellent, and I am glad Universal included them. One scene I like is how the team tried to find the Sphinx first, but ended up just missing him. A music video by Kel is inside the music presentation, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
