Movie Review for Superhero Movie (2008)

Click Poster to Purchase


Review #629 of 365
Movie Review of Superhero Movie (2008) [PG-13] 85 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $5.50
Where Viewed: Harkins Ciné Capri at Northfield 18, Denver, CO
When Seen: 2 April 2008
Time: 8:30 pm
DVD Release Date: 8 July 2008 (click date to purchase or pre-order)
Film's Official Website • Film's Trailer

Soundtrack: order the CD below

Directed by: Craig Mazin (The Specials)
Written by: Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 4)

Featured Cast (Where You Might Remember Him/Her From):
Drake Bell ("Drake & Josh") • Sara Paxton (Sydney White) • Christopher McDonald (Mad Money) • Leslie Nielsen (Scary Movie 4) • Kevin Hart (Drillbit Taylor) • Marion Ross (Music Within) • Ryan Hansen ("Veronic Mars") • Keith David (First Sunday) • Brent Spiner (Material Girls) • Robert Joy (AvP: Requiem) • Jeffrey Tambor (Slipstream) • Robert Hays (Freezerburn) • Nicole Sullivan ("Kim Possible") • Sam Cohen (debut)
Additional Interesting Cast Members or Characters: Tracy Morgan as Professor Xavier, Regina Hall as Mrs. Xavier, Marisa Lauren as Storm, Craig Bierko as Wolverine, Simon Rex as The Human Torch, Dan Castellaneta as Carlson, Sean Simms as Barry Bonds, Pamela Anderson as Invisible Girl, Miles Fisher as Tom Cruise, Charlene Tilton as Jill's Mother, Aki Aleong as Dalai Lama, Howard Mungo as Nelson Mandela, David McKnight as Bishop Tutu, Freddie Pierce as Tony Bennett

Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word or less review of this film]
In the tradition of Airplane! comes the spoof parody of superhero movies from writer / director Craig Mazin and featuring most of the tricks of the trade of the older school spoof parody films including the must-be-cast Leslie Nielson. Roughly following the plot of the Spider-man trilogy, Superhero Movie introduces us to the newly hatched superhero, Dragonfly (Drake Bell) formerly the mild-mannered Rick Riker. Whenever possible, references and themes from the Fantastic Four, X-men, etc. superhero films have been weaved into the over-arching Spider-man plot. The result is as effective as it is ineffective. The purpose, of course, of spoof parodies is generally uproarious comedy. Well, Superhero Movie is not that. It does have several hilarious scenes, but the overall film minus those few falls a bit flat on its face. The reasons are numerous but the most obvious is that the material isn't that fresh, and the story of course derivative and recycled—as parodies are nearly by definition. Unfortunately, Craig Mazin probably erred in his thinking about a superhero film spoof because he decided to make his hero pretty heroic. He's very likeable and Drake Bell plays him a lot like Tobey Maguire portrayed his Spider-man. Because of this little problem, it's frustrating to see him flounder rather than funny.
…Superhero Movie sadly just isn't that super…
The net result is a film which tries diligently to become a great comedy but ends a colossal tragedy instead. What made Meet the Spartans much better was that it poked fun at the inconsistencies and implausible parts of the ancient hero warrior films. At Craig Mazin followed that course, he probably would have found a better voice and achieved a better movie himself. Instead, the result is one that's barely worthy of a $3 DVD rental fee.

It's too bad because there's some obvious comedic talent on screen and some of the casting choices were brilliant: for example Miles Fisher is hilarious as Tom Cruise and Marion Ross was an inspired choice to portray the Dragonfly's aunt. Sara Paxton and Ryan Hansen serve well in their parodies of Kirsten Dunst and James Franco's roles from Spider-man as well. "Star Trek: TNG" fans will enjoy seeing Brent Spiner appear as a bad guy here poking some fun at himself and the incessant roles he's been given to play a mad scientist since his Star Trek days. Overall, however, Superhero Movie sadly just isn't that super despite the wealth of obvious material with which to work.

Send This Review To a Friend
Related Products from Amazon.com
Other Projects Featuring Superhero Movie (2008)
Cast Members
Drake Bell • Sara Paxton • Christopher McDonald
Leslie Nielsen • Kevin Hart • Marion Ross
Ryan Hansen • Keith David • Brent Spiner
Robert Joy • Sam Cohen • Robert Hays
Director
Craig Mazin
Writer
Craig Mazin
Review-lite Superhero Movie (2008) [max of 150 words]
A fairly unsuper attempt at parodying superhero movies directed and written by Craig Mazin that ends up being quite boring except for a couple of hilarious scenes. The problem is that the superhero Dragonfly (Drake Bell) is too genuine you end up being more frustrated at his lack of success than inspired to laugh at him—that would just be mean.
Send This Review To a Friend
Reviewed by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)