Superhero Movie delivers jokes so rapidly in it's first half that you almost forget how good a time you've had after a slower ending.
As is typical of such parodies, the movie's approach is as subtle as a spitball gun. Some of the gags are terrific, and some are groaners. But they're all fired at such a rapid pace that after a while, you have no choice but to give in to the silliness. The characters are like shooting-gallery ducks waiting to have parody lobbied at them.
Best of the bunch are Rick's well-meaning but dotty uncle and aunt (delightfully played by Leslie Nielsen and "Happy Days'" Marion Ross). The most pitiable is a take-off on disabled genius Stephen Hawking, who seems to push Mazin's bad-taste button over and over ad nauseum.A welcome return for Zucker style silliness and less pathetic attempts at parodies, there are also hints at intelligent humor and nods to other classic spoofs. There is also a truly hilarious moment involving Tom Cruise played to perfection by Miles Fisher.
Sure, I could find some things to complain about (the hit-and-miss humor becomes a little tired), but the bottom line is that this movie is still immeasurably better than what the spoof genre has been putting out lately (Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet The Spartans...) We can see that there is intelligence and wit behind Superhero Movie.
The movie is larded with sexual gags and profanity abound, and what might possibly be cinema's longest-ever flatulence gag.But if you can bear up under the cringe factor, "Superhero Movie" is mostly high-powered fun. Nifty comedy here runs neck-and-neck with bad taste. It's a close race, but the comedy wins.
2.5/5
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