In 1999, Ben Stiller, Geoffrey Rush and Janeane Garofalo starred in a satirical comic book adaptation that poked fun at the genre as a whole. Its production was plagued by drama, though, and – when it was finally released – it cratered at the box office. But in an age of James Gunn and ‘The Boys’, is it worth another look, asks Tom Fordy

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/15735604

Perhaps it’s fitting that a film about a ragtag rabble of not-so-superheroes failed to take off at the box office. But, 25 years since its release, the Ben Stiller-starring Mystery Men is worth rescuing from obscurity. That it hasn’t generated the cult following of so many other slightly under-the-radar movies of 1999 – think the cannibal horror movie Ravenous, or the Kirsten Dunst Watergate comedy Dick – feels criminal to the point of super-villainy.

The first and to date last feature film by the TV commercial director Kinka Usher, Mystery Men now seems curiously placed within the history of comic book movies. Released on 6 August 1999 in the US, it spoofed the superheroes that came before it, while anticipating – or preemptively satirising, even – the yet-to-happen superhero boom with ideas as sharp as anything seen in almost two decades of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • EchEnglish
    25·
    3 months ago

    I adore this movie. It’s unabashedly weird and fun, and a fantastic satire of superhero tropes at the time.

    My only significant hangup with it is the look of cultural appropriation through the Blue Rajah, but it stands just on the right side of acceptable imo thanks to a well fleshed out character and Hank Azaria’s great performance.

    If you haven’t seen it, check it out.

    • slickgoat@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      3 months ago

      He plays an Englishman, and there is a long history of Victorian Brits becoming infatuated with Indian culture. The reference is obscure, but definitely there.

      • EchEnglish
        16·
        3 months ago

        Exactly. In fact (spoiler-ish warning), he plays a regular-ass American cosplaying an Englishman that’s in turn cosplaying being an Indian mystic. The extra layer does a lot of work to keep it in good taste.

  • Quetzalcutlass@lemmy.worldEnglish
    23·
    3 months ago

    “Fell down an elevator shaft and landed on a pile of bullets” has lived in my head rent-free since I saw this movie 25 years ago. I don’t know why - it’s not even particularly funny or clever, but the line stuck with me.

    • tombruzzoEnglish
      6·
      3 months ago

      All Star is known as the Shrek song but it literally has Mystery Men in the music video. Another injustice this movie has to face

  • anytimesoon@feddit.ukEnglish
    11·
    3 months ago

    This movie definitely deserved better. I really enjoyed it and watched it many times with friends while high. Not the funniest movie ever, but worse movies have had more success

    • BowtiesAreCool@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      3 months ago

      It’s not the funniest but I honestly would put the writing in my top 10 of funny movies.

      The entire sequence of flipping the switches with captain Fantastic gets me laughing so hard every time

  • UKFilmNerd@feddit.ukMEnglish
    10·
    3 months ago

    I saw this on release in the cinema and loved it. As soon as the US DVD was announced, I stuck in my pre-order. The only let down is that there’s not enough Eddie Izzard (as he was then known).

    I remember the commentary track being really interesting as during the superhero tryouts section of the film, there’s a lot of cameos of friends and upcoming actors. The only one I remember is the superhero Eraserhead/Pencilman (sorry it’s been so long I’ve forgotten his name). Anyway, he’s played by Doug Jones who would become more famous for playing fantastical creatures. The fawn from Pan’s Labyrinth, Abe Sapien from Hellboy, Saru in Star Trek: Discovery and so many more shows and films.

  • dittyEnglish
    9·
    3 months ago

    Just the idea of an invisible man who can only turn invisible when no one’s looking at him is so brilliant and hilarious

  • MajorHavoc@programming.devEnglish
    8·
    3 months ago

    Kinka Usher hasn’t made more films?! I had no idea. That feels tragic. I hate to think what we’re missing out on.

  • ChexMax@lemmy.worldEnglish
    6·
    3 months ago

    Mystery men, mystery men, mystery men, what a treat! I didn’t expect to be seeing you again so spoon!

    My family quotes this movie to each other all the time even still

    I think about it when I encourage my husband. Big rubber gloves on his face, “you shovel well”