Mystery Men (1999)

All Critics (103) | Top Critics (30) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (41) | DVD (22)

The characters have been designed to make fun of themselves, disguising the craft of writer Neil Cuthbert and director Kinka Usher in getting us to laugh at them.

July 15, 2010 Full Review

Lisa Alspector

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Usher's amiable spoof of superhero movies takes a brave stab at rewriting the mythology from the inside out, with lots of witty, mildly subversive stuff.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Derek Adams

Time Out

Top Critic

Mystery Men is like its hapless heroes. It's a wannabe that has the best intentions -- including a pronounced anti-gun stance -- but none of the knack it takes to save the day, or itself.

February 21, 2004 Full Review

Steve Murray

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Top Critic

This bunch achieves peaks of sublime nuttiness.

June 18, 2002 Full Review

Bob Graham

San Francisco Chronicle

Top Critic

Surprisingly, this spoof's heart is genuinely warm.

March 22, 2002 Full Review

Simon Houpt

Globe and Mail

Top Critic

A long, shapeless, undisciplined mess!

January 1, 2000 Full Review | Comments (2)

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Even with its super cast, the slow-moving 'Mystery Men' falters in its attempt to spoof comic book heroes.

September 29, 2012 Full Review

Betty Jo Tucker

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

It is good that the film has charm, for after a certain point it doesn't necessarily have anything else.

May 7, 2012 Full Review

Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

Witty comic-book story is edgy, with lots of potty humor.

December 26, 2010 Full Review

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Hugely entertaining -- especially for those with a thing for superheroes.

July 15, 2010 Full Review

Film4

Fails to come up with worthy gags and one-liners for the able cast.

November 16, 2009 Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

An instant cult comedy that doesn't walk or talk like anything else out there.

August 25, 2008 Full Review

Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

How many laughs can you get out of a handful of one-joke characters? Well, if your ensemble contains the talents of Janeane Garofalo, William H. Macy, Hank Azaria and Ben Stiller, the answer is: a lot.

July 14, 2007 Full Review

Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

The Just-Us League of America

July 6, 2006 Full Review

Shane Burridge

rec.arts.movies.reviews

So much time is spent in getting to know everyone, the jokes are few and far between when they should be fast and furious.

April 9, 2005 Full Review

Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

If as a kid you ever put on a costume and imagined you were a superhero, you should have a perfectly good time with this movie.

January 15, 2005 Full Review

Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking Closer

Director Usher should have spent a little more time in the editing room.

February 4, 2003 Full Review

Scott A. Mantz

Scott Mantz' Movie Reviews

...better than sitting at home on a hot summer night watching the sitcoms. Or maybe it's exactly like sitting at home on a hot summer night watching the sitcoms

December 8, 2002 Full Review

Philip Martin

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Stiller, Macy, and Garofalo are a joy to watch.

December 8, 2002 Full Review

Ron Wells

Film Threat

A desperately hit-and-miss affair.

December 2, 2002 Full Review

Jonathan Romney

Sight and Sound

As hip as this dud thinks it is, it's not fooling me.

September 10, 2002 Full Review

Kevin N. Laforest

Montreal Film Journal

The movie is so slow and so obsessed with its own jokes that it is ultimately disappointing.

August 21, 2002 Full Review

Marty Mapes

Movie Habit

• 1. Spleen: [talks about his curse] I blamed it on an old gypsy woman who happened to be passing by. BIG! MISTAKE!
  – Submitted by Zach W (8 months ago)
• 1. Mr. Furious: I don't need a compass to know which way the wind shines.
  – Submitted by Austin B (11 months ago)
• 1. Shoveler: Don't start that again. Lance Hunt wears glasses, Captain amazing doesn't wear glasses.
  2. Mr. Furious: He takes them off when he transforms.
  3. Shoveler: That doesn't make any sense. he wouldn't be able to see.
  – Submitted by Racer L (12 months ago)
• 1. Mr. Furious: [talking about Carmine the Bowler] Seems there was a little controversy there regarding your father's death.
  2. The Bowler: Yes, the police said he fell down an elevator shaft. Onto some bullets.
  3. Blue Raja: You know, I've always suspected a bit of foul play there.
  4. The Bowler: As have I.
  – Submitted by Francis L (16 months ago)
• 1. Mr. Furious: Frack you later, Frankenpuss!
  – Submitted by Owen T (17 months ago)
• 1. Shoveler: We've got a blind date with destiny, and it looks like she's ordered the lobster.
  – Submitted by Bryon S (23 months ago)