I saw the previews for this during the Star Wars, Phantom Menace trailer, and it looked all right. Got my attention and had a great look to it. Besides, Geoffrey Rush played the heavy.. how could it go wrong?
Somewhere between that trailer and last night, my hopes and expectations got pretty high for the film. So, when I saw it, I was sad to say that the film wasn't all that I had hoped it would be.
The look, the style, the atmosphere and mood are all great. A futuristic Gotham City. In fact, the look wasn't that different from Tim Burton's early "dark" Batmans.
The cast is dazzling. Kinnear plays a great superhero who owns the town. Good-looking and heroic. Maybe a little dumb and greedy, but that's OK. (plot hole: why would a millionaire need endorsements?) Ben Stiller plays a great Mr. Furious, who really isn't all that furious. He's a puppy dog who feels obligated to be angry. Rush is evil, and plays it straight. Macy is convincing as the idealistic (but whipped) Shoveller, who has a "gift" for shovelling well.
I don't really know why they let Paul Rueben into this party. He played his part well - don't get me wrong. It's just that his character was like a Mystery Men Jar Jar. His "Spleen" superhero adds nothing but amusing bathroom humor and body sounds, and seems his presence is only there to appeal to juvenile boys. Why?
The action drags in some parts, is sometimes campy, other times contemplative. A bit inconsistent. The dialogue is snappy, and I really laughed out loud in a few parts, and was just amused in others.
In the end, they all overcome their own personal obstacles (plot hole: we don't see Mr. Furious with a snappy comeback...something that his early self couldn't do). There are good lessons, like never giving up and sticking to your dreams.
Still, I would have enjoyed it more had it been more consistent. All in all, a 6½.