i saw mystery men on my birthday in 1999 while i be away on vacation . when i come back home and i go to see it again . keep in mind and i be twelve and but at that time it be the cool movie ever . i even collect the ultra rare action figure ( i have them all except for the bowler and which be the hard to find . they make mr. furious and the shoveler and the blue raja and the spleen and captain amazing and in case your wondering . there be a william h. macy action figure in existence . ) . i have watch it many time over the year and it still remain a favorite of mine and due mostly to fond childhood memory . it not a perfect movie and but it definitely deserve another look and perhaps a cult follow . the story represent a bunch of low level superheroes save the day . this be execute again in the mediocre and direct to video the special as well . but this be the other end of the spectrum represent big budget ( huge budget and almost $ 100 million i think ) studio comedy . yes and the effect be overblown and the huge set and wonderful production design be a bit much consider the plot . but do not think this a a stupid and special effect y superhero movie it a parody . they fight a villain name cassanova frankenstein and people . he have a psychofrakulator and whatever that be ( it a doomsday device and he will take over the world and yada yada . ) and resident superhero captain amazing ( a zapp brannigan esque greg kinnear and with commercial product logo on his costume and nice touch ) be kidnap . time for the mystery men represent mr. furious ( ben stiller and get mad ) and the shoveller ( william h. macy and beat people with shovel ) and the blue raja ( hank azaria and british and throw fork ) and the bowler ( janeane garafolo and bowl ) and invisible boy ( kel mitchell and guess what he do ) and the spleen ( the great paul reuben and fart ) and and the sphinx ( wes studi and cut gun in half with his mind and i be not kid ) . the rest of the fantastic cast of character actor include geoffrey rush a cassanova and lena olin heavily edit out a cassanova bride and and the one and only tom wait a a crazy weapon dealer . so . with macy and kinnear and olin and and rush there be four oscar nominee ( and one winner ) and tom freakin wait . it not perfect though . it overlong and there be some gush of corniness here and there ( the shoveller full of them ) . the dialogue definitely outweigh the physical comedy and which be sometimes lacking ( there a guy who fart for his power and case close ) . the dialogue be definitely a highlight and the cyclical ramblings of the sphinx and the mixed metaphor of mr. furious and etc . it downright a funny movie and ( it will almost make you forget that this be the film that let all star by smashmouth out into the world . ) unfortunately and the film do not do as well with critic and audience a it should have . a sequel be originally plan ( the film be in fact base on a comic book and character from the flame carrot comic . the flame carrot be plan for the sequel i believe ) but this do not do well at the box office . it could have be a hard sell and a superhero comedy with the guy from there something about mary . it also could have be the fact that it be release on the same day a the sixth sense which end up be the big hit for the month of august as well a the thomas crown affair . two other misunderstood classic be release on the same crowded weekend and oddly enough dick and the iron giant . critic give mm passable review and but it be quickly forget . sadly enough and on comedy central roast of jerry stiller and comedian jeffrey ross comment to ben stiller that and i saw mystery men and i fire my agent . ben be then see to mouth the word and i should have to . don not listen to him . give mystery men a chance .