Good concept, poorly executed.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The Mystery Men is my favorited and beloved superhero movie. I saw this movie somewhere in 2001 or 2003 and I've watched it many times over the years and it still remains a favorite of mine, due mostly to fond childhood memories. It's not a perfect movie, but it definitely deserves another look and perhaps a cult following to this movie.I always have my 90s nostalgia movies and look back at them just like The Fifth Element, Ghost In The Shell and The City Of Lost Children as good movies to watch over and over again just like The Mystery Men.STORY: In the metropolis of Champion City, the would-be superhero team of Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), the Shoveler (William H. Macy), and the Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) attempt to make a name for themselves, but their suspect skills make them ineffective, and they find themselves upstaged by the city's most successful superhero, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear). However, Amazing is finding that his effectiveness at fighting crime has practically made his job obsolete, and without any worthy adversaries remaining (some of them are either dead, in exile, or still in jail), his corporate sponsors are beginning to pull their funding. To create a need for himself, Amazing uses his alter ego, billionaire lawyer Lance Hunt, to argue for the release of insane supervillain Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush). The plan backfires; once reunited with Tony P (Eddie Izzard) and his Disco Boys, Casanova Frankenstein blows up the insane asylum, captures Amazing, and prepares to unleash a doomsday device: the "Psycho-frakulator", which lethally bends reality. Mr. Furious, while spying on Casanova Frankenstein's mansion, discovers Amazing's capture and informs the others.After an unsuccessful rescue attempt, the three realize they need more allies, and through word-of-mouth and try-outs, they recruit Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell), the Spleen (Paul Reubens), and the Bowler (Janeane Garofalo). The newly formed team "assaults" Casanova, which only succeeds in annoying him and damaging his car. While drunk from celebrating their victory, the team is nearly killed in retaliation by Tony P and the Disco Boys, but they are saved at the last minute by the Sphinx (Wes Studi). The Sphinx trains them, but his methods annoy Mr. Furious – he has them complete rote team-building exercises and speaks exclusively in Chiasmus. They also seek out mad scientist Doc Heller (Tom Waits), who specializes in non-lethal weaponry, to equip them for their battle.The group breaks into Casanova's mansion during a gathering of several of the city's gangs; but, while attempting to free Captain Amazing, they inadvertently set off the Psycho-frakulator, killing him instead. Without Amazing, the team despairs of saving the city, but the Shoveler delivers a pep-talk that succeeds in uniting and inspiring them.With new-found purpose, they assault the mansion and, by making effective use of their negligible superpowers and Heller's weapons, manage to subdue most of Casanova Frankenstein's henchmen. Unfortunately, as the heroes approach Casanova Frankenstein, he reveals that he is holding Mr. Furious' girlfriend Monica (Claire Forlani) hostage, and proceeds to activate the Psycho-frakulator, which begins to wreak havoc upon the city. While the team tries to stop the device, Mr. Furious takes on Casanova Frankenstein. After initially taking a beating, Mr. Furious unleashes his inner rage and manages to fight effectively for the first time. He defeats Casanova Frankenstein, who is thrown into the core of the Psycho-frakulator and killed by its reality-bending powers. The rest of the team helps The Bowler use her bowling ball to destroy the device and escape the mansion as it implodes.The team is interviewed by reporters, begging to know their team name. As they argue among themselves, one reporter states "Well, whatever you may call them, Champion City will forever owe a debt of gratitude to these 'Mystery Men'," but the others are too busy arguing to hear it.The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 60% based on 101 reviews; the consensus states: "Absurd characters and quirky gags are brought to life by a talented cast, providing this superhero spoof with lots of laughs." On Metacritic, the film has a 65/100 rating based on 24 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews".Jonathan Romney said that it was "a desperately hit-and-miss affair". Michael Dequina of The Movie Report said that it "fails to come up with worthy gags and one-liners for the able cast." Steve Murray of Cox News Service gave it a negative review, saying "Mystery Men is like its hapless heroes. It's a wannabe that has the best intentions – including a pronounced anti-gun stance – but none of the knack it takes to save the day, or itself."British television channel Film4 gave it a positive review, saying it was "Hugely entertaining – especially for those with a thing for superheroes."I loved this movie at always in my 90s nostalgia side of me.I will give it AN BETTER MOVIE BESIDE THAT HORRIBLE SUICIDE SQUAD MOVIE out of 10.

With all of the Marvel and DC movies coming out these days, this film should have been a monster success. The only problem is, it came out when superhero movies were just getting started. Had this been released in 2009 instead of 1999, after X-Men, Spider-Man, Superman Returns, and Iron Man all came out, audiences would have gone crazy over this lovable group of wannabe superheroes who have to save the day when real superhero, Captain Amazing, is captured.Certainly few movies boast a murder's row of actors such as this movie did. William H. Macy was hysterical as family man The Shoveler, Hank Azaria's Blue Raja was a master of throwing forks (never knives), Janeane Garofalo (back when she was likable) was The Bowler, Kel Mitchell as Invisible Boy (who can only turn invisible if no one is watching), and even Paul "Pee Wee Herman" Reubens was a riot as The Spleen, who took passing gas to a whole new level.The ringleader of the group is Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller) who seems to become the focal point of the movie more than anyone else. I thought it a bit ironic Stiller would trash this film given most of the scenes that annoyed me involved him, although he does redeem his role by movie's end.The group of supervillians is impressive as well, led by Geoffrey Rush as Casanova Frankenstein and Eddie Izzard and Pras as the two Tonys. Even Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) isn't much in the way of a superhero to the Mystery Men, given how condescending he acts towards them and how full of himself he is. Kinnear did provide a great performance there, no question.If you're a fan of what Marvel is putting out these days, this movie will make you laugh and cheer for the good guys.

Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), Blue Raja (Hank Azaria) and the Shoveler (William H. Macy) are rather incompetent superheroes of Champion City. They are rescued by the endorsement-obsessed Captain Amazing/tycoon Lance Hunt (Greg Kinnear). All the big villains are gone. When he loses an endorsement, Captain Amazing helps Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) get parole from the asylum in hopes of fighting him for the popularity. Tony P (Eddie Izzard) and the disco boys join Casanova and his psychiatrist Dr. Anabel Leek (Lena Olin) to reign terror in the city. Captain Amazing is captured by Casanova and Furious leads the group to try to rescue him. However the disco boys are too competent and the gang needs to recruit new superheroes. Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell) can only be invisible when nobody is watching him. The Spleen (Paul Reubens) can fart at will rendering the target unconscious. The Bowler (Janeane Garofalo) has a bowling ball with her heroic father's possessed skull. The gang is rescued by the Spinx (Wes Studi) who can mentally cut guns in half. Doc Heller (Tom Waits) makes non-lethal weapons.There are two characters that are actually funny. The rest are deliberately quirky without being funny. Spleen is funny. Fart jokes will always work and Reubens is great at it. Garofalo is kinda funny at times. Her big contribution is that she makes others funnier especially Stiller. Furious is silly but not that funny until he starts arguing with Garofalo. The movie is too overloaded with characters. The concept is fun. When it hits, it's hilarious. Even when it misses, it's still kinda cute.

Mystery Men (1999): Dir: Kinka Usher / Cast: Ben Stiller, Geoffrey Rush, Greg Kinnear, William H. Macy, Claire Forlani: A celebration of the ordinary man taking a stand against a corrupt society. There is Mr. Furious, played by Ben Stiller who is empowered by his temper. William H. Macy plays the Shoveler who fights using a shovel. Hank Azaria plays a master of silver wear. The Bowler uses a swift bowling ball that shelters her father's skull. Spleen has lethal gas. Invisible Boy is pretty self explanatory. They are all taught by Sphinx who is given many of the funniest lines. Story regards the capture of Captain Amazing by the evil Cassanova Frankenstein leaving our amateur heroes to save the day. Overlong cartoon violence directed by Kinka Usher who exploits every cliché within reach. Greg Kinnear is hilarious as Captain Amazing who solved all crimes and is now reduced to promotional ads. Geoffrey Rush as Cassanova discovers the change in culture. Ben Stiller, William H. Macy and Azaria play modern heroes who play off great comic timing and chemistry. Claire Forlani is written as the standard love interest and damsel as oppose to a secret hero herself. The climax isn't as effective as it should be namely because the humour starts to drain out. On the positive end the premise is unique, and the art direction and visuals are flashy and exciting in this wonderfully realized spoof. Score: 8 ½ / 10