NOT-SO-GENTLE BEN Mr. Furious (Stiller,
center) takes on the bad guys, aided by (from left) Azaria, Mitchell, Garofalo,
and Studi
Directed by Kinka Usher
What's the big deal? A first-rate cast as second-rate superheroes.
Release date Aug. 6
IT SEEMS CURIOUS not to have men in tights fighting crime in the nation's megaplexes during the summer. Yet 1999 finds Hollywood's crime-fighting first string on the sidelines. ''Batman'''s in creative rehab, ''Superman'' can't get off the ground, and ''Spider-Man'''s still a few years away. But have no fear: ''The Mystery Men are here''. Hinging on a concept derived from ''The Flaming Carrot'' (an issue of the cult-classic comic book ''Mystery Men''), the movie stars Kinnear as Captain Amazing, the resident Superman of mythical Champion City. When he takes a leave of absence, the title team -- a group of wannabe heroes led by the angry Mr. Furious (Stiller) -- must defend this metropolis against the villainous Casanova Frankenstein (Rush).
But perhaps the most oddball aspect of the production is its eclectic cast -- none of whom you'd expect to find playing superheroes. "I'm the Bowler," explains the inimitably deadpan Garofalo. "I'm not that talented a bowler. The ball is very talented, as it has my dead father's head in it, and he was a great bowler." And you, ''Boogie Nights''' Macy? ''I'm the Shoveler. I shovel.''
Yes, ''Mystery Men'' is a comedy, imagining a world where being a superhero is at least as plausible as being a rap star. Says the Fugees' Pras, who plays Tony C., a baddie with an even badder Afro: ''It's as if you were sitting at dinner and some guy walked in dressed like this and really thinks that he has the flyest s--- on and doesn't feel out of place. That's what's funny about this movie.''