In this funny action comedy directed by Kinka Usher, Captain Amazing (Greg Kinnear) is the reigning superhero in the futuristic Champion City. He comes up with a dastardly scheme to pick up some more flare for his waning image. This involves releasing Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush) from prison so he'll have some worthy competition. Only trouble is, this nefarious villain outflanks him.
The only ones who can rescue the city from certain doom are a band of wannabe superheroes. They are Blue Raja (Hank Azaria), whose weapon of choice is cutlery; Mr. Furious (Ben Stiller), who's "a ticking time bomb" of rage; the Shoveler (William H. Macy), a straight-arrow crusader for good; the Spleen (Paul Reubens), whose flatulence bowls people over; Invisible Boy (Kel Mitchell), who can only do his stuff when no one is looking at him; and the Bowler (Janeane Garofolo), whose father's skull is encased in a powerful ball. Mystery Men is a nutty and likeable film that also is animated by the wacky antics of the Sphinx (Wes Studi), an aphorism spouting seer, and Doc Heller (Tom Waits), the creator of nonviolent weapons. Heroism in Mystery Men is well within the grasp of this band of crime-fighting losers.