Superhero Movie MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +1 Content: -4

Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Pamela Anderson, Christopher McDonald. Comedy/spoof. Written & directed by Craig Mazin.

FILM SYNOPSIS: An unpopular high school student gets bitten by genetically altered dragonfly. Suddenly he has super powers. But almost as soon as he dons cape and tights, a super villain comes on the scene, making life just as frustrating for our young hero. Spider-Man, Batman Begins and Fantastic Four each get parodied much the way the Naked Gun and Airplane films did for law enforcement and the flying industry.

PREVIEW REVIEW: I thought my inability to laugh at most of the comedy indicated that maybe I was in a bad mood. After all, Ive seen all this before and laughed. But nothing here was tickling the old funny bone. Maybe, I mused, my funny bone was no longer ticklish. Later that evening, however, I saw another film, Leatherheads. I laughed at that one. So, maybe I wasnt in a bad mood. And my funny bone was indeed still capable of being stimulated.

Just before Superhero Movie began, two teen couples entered the theater. Nice group. They even said hello, politely. I doubt they had seen Airplane. So all this deadpan spoofing and nonsensical humor was fresh to them. They laughed a lot. Actually, every time the s-word was used, they giggled. And it was used often. Theres even the sight gag with the cross street signs read Oh and S---. This brought the house down. Well, the teen foursome, anyway. It was them and me. That was it. Biggest theater in the complex and the 6:00 pm crowd consisted of five people.

Theres a lot of coarse, vulgar humor that depends on sexuality and bodily functions, including veteran Leslie Neilson providing his trademark deadpan delivery, as well as his fondness for flatulence jokes. Not even the kids laughed at that.

Want a funny spoof? Try this DVD alternative: A Shot In the Dark. Inspector Clouseau falls for a beautiful murder suspect in this hilarious follow up to The Pink Panther.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: MGM