Mystery Men (1999)

Director:

Kinka Usher

Writers (WGA):

Neil Cuthbert (written by)
Bob Burden (creator: comic book series)

Release Date:

6 August 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

This summer expect the unexpected

Plot:

A group of inept amateur superheroes must try to save the day when a supervillian threatens to destroy a major superhero and the city.

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Sphinx | Spleen | Bowling | Rajah

Awards:

3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Feb. 18

2:00 AM

AMC

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Hank Azaria	...	Blue Raja
Janeane Garofalo	...	Bowler
William H. Macy	...	Shoveler
Kel Mitchell	...	Invisible Boy
Paul Reubens	...	Spleen
Ben Stiller	...	Furious
Wes Studi	...	Sphinx
Greg Kinnear	...	Captain Amazing / Lance
Geoffrey Rush	...	Casanova Frankenstein
Lena Olin	...	Dr. Anabel Leek
Eddie Izzard	...	Tony P
Artie Lange	...	Big Red
Pras	...	Tony C (as Prakazrel Michel)
Claire Forlani	...	Monica
Tom Waits	...	Doc Heller

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for comic action violence and crude humor.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:PG (cut) | Finland:K-10 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | France:U | Germany:12 | Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 (NO. 36821) | Netherlands:MG6

Filming Locations:

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens - 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the bar where the team celebrates after the successful run-in with Frankenstein, one camera angle shows an orange neon sign on the wall. It is the Chinese expression, "Clothing Shop".

Goofs:

Continuity: After Lance Hunt reads Captain Amazing's "letter" during Casanova's trial, he folds it back up. However, in the next shot it is unfolded, then in the following shot when he puts the letter in his coat, it is folded up again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Heller: [offering an old lady candy at the Senior dance] Would you like something sweet?
Old Lady: [impressed] Oh!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

No More Heroes

LOVED it.

This movie was a brilliant concept. It was original, cleverly written and of high appeal to those of us who aren't really 'conformist' movie pickers. Don't get me wrong - there are some great movies that have wide appeal, but when you move into watching a movie based on "everyone else is watching it" - you know you're either a tween or don't really have an opinion. This had a lovely subtle humor - despite most people probably looking only at the obvious. The actors portrayed their characters with aplomb and I thought there was a lot more "personal" personality in this film. Has appeal for kids, as well as adults. Esp. nice to find a good movie that's not filled with sexual references and drug innuendos! A great film, not to be overlooked based on public consumption. This one is a must buy.