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Superhero Movie (2008)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
28 March 2008 (USA) moreTagline:
The greatest Superhero movie of all time! (not counting all the others)Plot:
Orphaned high school student Rick Riker is bitten by a radioactive dragonfly, develops super powers (except for the ability to fly), and becomes a hero. | full synopsisAwards:
1 win moreNewsDesk:
(22 articles)
Ledger Tops Movie Villain Poll (From WENN. 3 September 2008, 7:02 AM, PDT)
Watch the funny trailer for 'An American Carol' (From screeninglog. 18 August 2008, 11:22 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
With great parody comes great responsibility moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)more
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Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, comic violence, drug references and language.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
75 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-13 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44303) | Ireland:15A | Singapore:PG (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIB | UK:12A | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Netherlands:6 | Germany:12 | South Korea:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13MOVIEmeter: 
18% since last week
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Michael Papajohn, who plays the mugger who ends up gunning Rick's parents down, originated the role of Carradine -- the man who steals Uncle Ben's car after shooting him -- in Spider-Man (2002). moreGoofs:
Continuity: When Dragon-Fly and Jill are kissing in the rain from one shot to the next their noses switch over. moreQuotes:
Uncle Albert: With great power comes... ow!Rick Riker: Great responsibility? Try to breathe!
Uncle Albert: I can't. You're kneeling on my balls!
more
Soundtrack:
Superbounce moreFAQ
Does Superhero have the same writers as Epic Movie, Date Movie and Meet The Spartans?more
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If "Superhero Movie" gives you the same giddy, guilty-pleasure feeling as "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies, it's no accident. Some of those movies' personnel – who were also involved in two lesser "Scary Movie" sequels – show up here. (Those include writer-director Craig Mazin, who happily has come a long way from 1997's abysmal "Rocketman.")
The movie's title says it all. It's a comedy that takes a well-known hit (in this case, "Spider-Man"), turns it inside out, and uses it as a clothesline for gags. In this parody version, nerdy Rick Riker (amiable Drake Bell of cable-TV's "Drake and Josh") gets bitten by a mutant dragonfly, turning him into...well, take a guess. Meanwhile, a well-meaning scientist (Chris McDonald) turns nasty when his experiment backfires and he finds he must sap others' life-blood in order to keep himself alive.
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.
This leads me to the movie's most required caveat. While the flick is mostly silly fun, it pushes its "PG-13" rating right up to the edge of the "R" cliff. 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.
"Superhero Movie" is rated PG-13 for countless sex and drug references, crude humor, and adult language.