Superhero Movie

Director: Craig Mazin
Screenwriters: Craig Mazin
Starring: Drake Bell, Leslie Nielsen, Sara Paxton, Marion Ross, Christopher McDonald
Running time: 85 mins
Certificate: 12A

Given the dire nature of Meet The Spartans and a spate of recent laugh-free spoof movies, it's unsurprising that expectations are fairly low for Superhero Movie - despite the involvement of some serious on- and off-screen talent. Yet, surprisingly, there are enough inspired moments of hilarity to ensure that the movie stays afloat and provides a moderately pleasing experience.

The film's title pretty much explains the plot, as teenage lad Rick (Bell) is bitten by a dragonfly and develops new powers. His flatulent, senile Aunt Lucille (Ross) and senile Uncle Albert (Nielsen) try to keep him on the straight and narrow, but he has to contend with villainous baddie The Hourglass (McDonald) and a mega crush on his pretty neighbour Jill (Paxton). The plot doesn't really matter much though, as the real focus is on lampooning the superhero genre and modern culture through a procession of visual and verbal gags.

However, don't be fooled into thinking that the combined presence of David Zucker as producer and Leslie Nielsen as a deadpan fool means that Superhero Movie is anywhere near the same league as their earlier endeavours like Airplane and The Naked Gun. Only sporadic moments do recall these films, like a fart-interrupted romantic scene between a young couple and the underused Nielsen's attempts to teach a teenage boy about puberty - using a manual designed for the opposite sex.

Sadly, too much time is spent on laboured attempts to poke fun at the superhero genre, recreating scenes from Spider-Man and X-Men with an added tedious twist. The fundamental problem lies in the advent of postmodernism in contemporary cinema many years ago. These days, genre movies self-consciously play around with the conventions, either teasing the viewer and indulging their expectations - all with a knowing wink. This hugely scuppers the effectiveness of any spoofing.

Numerous digs at technology fare much better, particularly ones about the Facebook and Craigslist websites. Political correctness is also refreshingly brushed aside with a parody of Professor Stephen Hawking. It's hard to know whether you're laughing because of its sheer outrageous nature, or because it's genuinely humourous.

Transcending the uneven script, the cast are uniformly superb and play it fairly straight, without the desperate mugging that made Meet The Spartans beyond intolerable. Drake Bell and Sara Paxton avoid falling into the bland trap despite being pretty young things, but the wonderful comic timing from the experienced likes of Nielsen, Marion Ross and Christopher McDonald ensures that our attention is sustained. A short running time and fast pace also ensures that Superhero Movie doesn't outstay its welcome.

Ribs will hardly be aching after seeing Superhero Movie, but fortunately one doesn't lose the will to live at any stage. (Yes, that's another swipe at Meet The Spartans). With enough solid gags, sturdy comic acting and the chance to see Leslie Nielsen molesting a corpse in a coffin, Superhero Movie is mostly undemanding fun.

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