Now Playing: Superhero Movie

By Luke Y. Thompson Fri., Mar. 28 2008 at 3:48 AM

Categories: Film

Pin It

Director Craig Mazin has delivered a groundbreaking, whip-smart comic-book spoof that deftly deconstructs the genre without relying on surface-level parody...it’s called The Specials, and it came out nearly eight years ago. Superhero Movie, which is only Mazin’s second directorial effort, is everything his first film was not: predictable, flat, name-dropping, tragically unhip, and likely to make a decent amount of cash.

Drake & Josh’s Drake Bell stars as Rick Riker, a hapless Tobey Maguire wannabe who’s bitten by a genetically enhanced insect and becomes the Dragonfly; what ensues is a silly Spider-Man spoof that’s ironically less witty than Sam Raimi’s source material. Note to screenwriters: it’s clear you think that jokes ending in the words “Myspace,” “YouTube,” or “Wikipedia” are automatically funny, but it just ain’t so. The best that can be said for Mazin is that he’s still a step up from the demonic duo of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer (Epic Movie), and Superhero Movie does deliver a small handful of laughs, mostly thanks to the presence of Jeffrey Tambor as a whacked-out doctor. But our standards for parody need to be higher than this.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter: Our weekly feature stories, movie reviews, calendar picks and more - minus the newsprint and sent directly to your inbox.

Write Comment

Email to Friend

Print Article

Related Content

Please. I refuse to acknowledge the attroicty that is Special Edition Han. Han shoots first, period. But Indie would probably kick his ass in a straight fight.
Are we talking Special Edition Han Solo who only fires in self-defense, though, or original Han? Either way, he's kind of a wuss at the very end. Jury's still out on Indy's last adventure.
<i>Geeks aren't together on it, though. Did you read Moriarty's takedown of FANBOYS over at AICN?</i> Fair cop. I've actually tried to stay out of it a bit, as I've not seen the film, and am acquainted with the screenwriter and a couple of the guys on the "Stop Darth Weinstein" campaign. And also because I know me, and my sympathies almost always run with the creator. That being said, I've spoken to other people who've seen it and who loved it to pieces. AICN ... is always a little troublesome for me. They get very excited by their access to Hollywood, and are sometimes easily swayed. (Although with Harry Knowles actually IN the movie, I have to say any negative review from them of it gives me pause.) Still, I'm impressed at the dust it's kicked up for a little film. All that AND Kristen Bell in Princess Leia's outfit from "Jedi," and really, I have to confess the film has my attention. <i>Come to think of it, geeks don't ever get together on stuff. Surely you've overheard at least one "Picard versus Kirk" debate in your lifetime?</i> Oh yes. Oh my, yes. But it causes nowhere near as much carnage as "Han Solo vs. Indiana Jones."
the best movie that was about superheros
What I said was that our standards for parody need to be higher than a small handful of laughs, i.e. they must be consistently funny. If you thought Superhero Movie did that, you got your money's worth. I got more consistent laughs from the original Spider-Man movies, via the scenes with Bonesaw, J. Jonah Jameson, Bruce Campbell, etc. I think Lola Lafanda's review above is actually a perfect counterpoint to mine. Reading both should give the reader a pretty good indication where their personal opinion might lie.
Why should our standard for parodies be higher than those in Superhero Movie? A parody is a work created to mock, comment on, or poke fun at an original work, its subject, or author, by means of humorous or satirical imitation,which was done in Superhero movie.While there should be standards for parodying movies,etc.,they shouldn't be so high that the parody is only a few steps from being the same as the original.
Geeks aren't together on it, though. Did you read Moriarty's takedown of FANBOYS over at AICN? Come to think of it, geeks don't ever get together on stuff. Surely you've overheard at least one "Picard versus Kirk" debate in your lifetime?
Now, Luke. I figured you'd be in on the <a href="http://stopdarthweinstein.chris-marquette.com/">Stop Darth Weinstein</a> boycott of "Superheroes." Geeks together, and all that!
Superhero movie was the best super hero movie ever! My favorite parts was when Rick Riker was peeing from the ceiling and when Rick's uncle was trying to make out with another man's dead and young wife at the funeral! That movie was the best!
Superhero movie was awsome and hilarious! Even though they copied some parts from Spiderman,that was the point. My favorite part was when Aunt Lucille was throwing gas while Rick and his true love were having a romantic moment!!! I would love to have that movie on DVD. The only thing I didn't like was that it was short. I think it should be at least two hours long. Anyway,Superhero movie is like the best superhero movie!!!!