The Smackdown. Lately, we've been awash in super-hero films: "Spider-Man"..."The Hulk"..."Fantastic Four"..."X-Men"..."Daredevil"..."Batman Begins"..."Superman Returns" and there seems to be no let-up in sight. That, of course, should make the whole genre open to a good spoof but, apparently, a good spoof is hard to find. Our match-up pits two films that have tried to take that title -- "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" which tries to send-up the genre as a romantic comedy and "Mystery Men" which aims to skewer the super-hero group film.
"You want to do WHAT? Up here?" Is that...possible?"
The Challenger. "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" has a very simple premise and it's a good one. Stan Lee taught us that super-heroes can be messed up with problems like you and me, but what if they are also completely needy, jealous and sore losers, too? What if you date one and before you know it she reveals her secret identity and you realize you just don't want to be with this person? Like I say, good premise, a set-up for some good comedy. Unfortunately, hot as Uma Thurman is a G-Girl, the story is a one-trick pony that gets old fast. Plus, it takes a by-the-numbers approach to its story, so there are no surprises at all. Everybody learns their lessons and ends up with the exact right person...for them. Boring.
"My God, I had no idea you could even do that without ripping your spandex."
The Defending Champion. "Mystery Men" had something going for it and the same thing going against it when it came out. Because it preceded this super-hero film glut, its irony and sarcasm weren't as easy to understand. And, because it did lead a wave, it still felt original. The truth is, looking back, the film really doesn't hold together well, most of it doesn't work, but there are moments of high comedy often enough to almost make you forget. It's the classic story of the B-team that must rise up beyond their capabilities, only these guys happen to have super-powers like flatulence, spoon hurling, nasty temper and bowling. And it has Ben Stiller, Bill Macy, Greg Kinnear and Paul Reubens.
The Scorecard. The thing is there just isn't enough there in "My Super Ex-Girlfriend" to get a firm recommendation. It's just light-weight cotton candy and it's a harmless way to spend a Friday night at home, but it doesn't justify going out. At the time, "Mystery Men" was worth a night out, and it's still a pretty decent rental. Neither one is fabulous. Both are sort of okay.
The Decision. These two films are featherweights, fighting in the heavyweight division. On points, in a dull fight, you have to give the decision to "Mystery Men" just because it's less tedious (but not by a lot). The champion here never made it in the ring. That would be "The Incredibles." Skip both of our films and see it again.
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