Super (James Gunn, 2011)

[Dukefrukem]

a thread for this movie because I'm still in love with Ellen Page. And because Nathan Fillion is totally awesome.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/uploads/8073/rainn-wilson-super-crimson-bolt-550x746.jpg


Plot: After his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer, an everyday guy transforms himself into Crimson Bolt, a superhero with the best intentions, though he lacks for heroic skills.

This panel is also equally awesome.

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[Dukefrukem]

trailer (http://blastr.com/2011/03/nathan-fillion-rocks-a-ma.php)

Looks like Kick Ass.

[DavidSeven]

Subverting the comic book genre has just become as trite as the actual thing.

[[ETM]]

It kind of looks like the reverse Dr.Horrible, without the singing.

[Morris Schæffer]

I loooooooooooved Kickass and this looks highly amusing too.

[Mal]

I feel as though I am having Deja Suck.

[number8]

No, this doesn't look like Kick-Ass. This looks like the movie Kick-Ass should have been.

[number8]

Also, that trailer makes it look more lighthearted than what I think the actual tone is. One clip I saw is Rainn Wilson standing in line for tickets when a guy spots a friend at the front of the line and joins her. Wilson changes into the Crimson Bolt, smacks the guy in the head with his wrench, leaving him writhing with a bloody head, and Crimson Bolt goes, "Don't cut in line!"

So it seems like the movie's going to go to a pretty dark place, more about a mentally unbalanced guy thinking he's doing the right thing than about a regular Joe trying to be a superhero. Less Kick-Ass, more Observe & Report.

[Morris Schæffer]

No, this doesn't look like Kick-Ass. This looks like the movie Kick-Ass should have been.

That's impossible because according to me, Kickass is awesome!

[[ETM]]

No, this doesn't look like Kick-Ass. This looks like the movie Kick-Ass should have been.

I'm glad you said it first.

[B-side]

Less Kick-Ass, more Observe & Report.

That doesn't make it sound any better.

[B-side]

Just watched the trailer and I still hate Rainn Wilson. Looks bland. I wanna have sex with Ellen Page. Needs more Nathan Fillion.

[Raiders]

WTF guys? This movie looks friggin' awesome.

[EyesWideOpen]

WTF guys? This movie looks friggin' awesome.

Agreed.

[Stay Puft]

No, this doesn't look like Kick-Ass. This looks like the movie Kick-Ass should have been.

That is exactly what I said after I saw the film. It's what Kick-Ass should have been.



So it seems like the movie's going to go to a pretty dark place, more about a mentally unbalanced guy thinking he's doing the right thing than about a regular Joe trying to be a superhero. Less Kick-Ass, more Observe & Report.

And, yes, that's pretty much the tone of the film. Rainn Wilson's character is severely unstable, delusion, and is influenced not so much by comic books in general in the film, but rather the religious Christian programming he watches on television (which features a Christian superhero of sorts helping children battle Satan). His inspiration to fight crime occurs when he is literally touched by the finger of God during a hallucination/dream.

[Ivan Drago]

Can't fucking wait!

[EyesWideOpen]

And, yes, that's pretty much the tone of the film. Rainn Wilson's character is severely unstable, delusion, and is influenced not so much by comic books in general in the film, but rather the religious Christian programming he watches on television (which features a Christian superhero of sorts helping children battle Satan). His inspiration to fight crime occurs when he is literally touched by the finger of God during a hallucination/dream.

You sold me on it.

[Kiusagi]

No, this doesn't look like Kick-Ass. This looks like the movie Kick-Ass should have been.

Although I liked Kick-Ass, I agree. A story like this could really go places with a darker tone and sense of humor. I was entertained by Kick-Ass but found most of its humor to be uninspired.

I liked the trailer and it made me laugh, even if it made the movie look lighter than it really is. I was interested before but now I'll definitely check it out.

[Henry Gale]

Yeah, hearing it starred Rainn Wilson and Ellen Page initially put an image in my head of the dreadful opening scenes of Juno between them speaking indie quirk (white pop-culture jive) back and forth, just with them wearing superhero costumes.

But NOW, between that trailer, Stay Puft's thoughts having actually seen the movie, and letting it sink in that James Gunn is behind it, I'm definitely looking forward to it.

I'd go Observe and Report > Kick-Ass any day.

[Sycophant]

I'm game. Slither was pretty damn good, and comparisons to Observe & Report are enough to get my interest up.

[bac0n]

James Gunn = me interested.

[Dukefrukem]

That is exactly what I said after I saw the film. It's what Kick-Ass should have been.

:pritch:

[Mal]

James makesmewanttoputaGunntomyhead.

[megladon8]

I really want to see this. It looks quite funny, and like it could have an intelligent edge to it.

James Gunn writes very funny, clever stuff.

[Henry Gale]

As much as I do like most of what I've seen of James Gunn's stuff, are we all going to conveniently forget that two of his only film writing credits to date are BOTH of the Scooby-Doo movies from the early aughts?

OK, the second one was definitely better than the first. Having the movie feel just like an expensive episode of the original show and giving people like Tim Blake Nelson important villain roles along the way helped it along. Mind you, this is the impression it left on a 14/15-year-old me. It may very well be unwatchable.

[Fezzik]

That is exactly what I said after I saw the film. It's what Kick-Ass should have been.




And, yes, that's pretty much the tone of the film. Rainn Wilson's character is severely unstable, delusion, and is influenced not so much by comic books in general in the film, but rather the religious Christian programming he watches on television (which features a Christian superhero of sorts helping children battle Satan). His inspiration to fight crime occurs when he is literally touched by the finger of God during a hallucination/dream.


So....is this yet another movie where those of Christian faith are made to look like delusional, hypocritical zealots or is that simply a plot point?

Because not only has that become somewhat overdone, I'm starting to feel like Hollywood doesn't give a crap if people like me actually watch their movies.

This is a serious question btw, not a rant. I'm interested in know how its portrayed. It could determine whether I seek it out or not.

[MadMan]

I laughed at the trailer, and I really dig the cast, too. The comparisons to Kick-Ass only appear to go so far as "Hey this movie is about people becoming super-heroes, too." If anything, Super almost reminds me more of Special (2006) instead. And I dug Kick-Ass a lot, so of course I'm going to go see this one. Home made superheroes interest me a lot more than the the traditional ones.

[[ETM]]

The comparisons to Kick-Ass only appear to go so far as "Hey this movie is about people becoming super-heroes, too."

No, not really. Both are about disturbed, wronged and lonely real-world individuals who adopt a masked alter-ego inspired by fiction as a way of escaping reality, exacting revenge and what they perceive as justice, but only end up destroying their lives, and those of innocent people who look up to them. "Kick-Ass" just made it look cool.

[Boner M]

Hated Kick-Ass/this looks cool

[Rowland]

I've seen some outright dismissals of this one, Sicinski coming to mind in particular. He even gave Kick-Ass a considerably better score. But hey, I liked Slither, and I didn't realize until now that Gunn is married to Jenna Fischer.

[EyesWideOpen]

I've seen some outright dismissals of this one, Sicinski coming to mind in particular. He even gave Kick-Ass a considerably better score. But hey, I liked Slither, and I didn't realize until now that Gunn is married to Jenna Fischer.

Their not anymore. They got divorced a few years ago and now Fischer is remarried.

[number8]

As much as I do like most of what I've seen of James Gunn's stuff, are we all going to conveniently forget that two of his only film writing credits to date are BOTH of the Scooby-Doo movies from the early aughts?

Huh? What do you mean? He has plenty of other film writing credits, including Slither.

[Henry Gale]

Huh? What do you mean? He has plenty of other film writing credits, including Slither.

I know, I was mostly kidding around, but they are two of about a half dozen film credits to his name, and it felt like that was worth pointing out amongst his name being thrown around with a seemingly "he can do no wrong"-type of aura to it. They aren't exactly the sort of thing I can blame him for writing though, seeing as they may have strangely given him the sort of pull needed to make something like Slither.

[Stay Puft]

So....is this yet another movie where those of Christian faith are made to look like delusional, hypocritical zealots or is that simply a plot point?

More of a plot point, I'd say. Though the Christian superhero show he watches is certainly parodical, and I think that combined with the character's actions and sense of morality more generally can be seen as a satire of fundamentalist moral rhetoric (Rainn Wilson is trying to save his wife from Kevin Bacon, who is a drug dealer, and therefore evil, and a tool of Satan).


Because not only has that become somewhat overdone, I'm starting to feel like Hollywood doesn't give a crap if people like me actually watch their movies.

If there's a prevalence of that character type I'd say it's just that, Hollywood playing to types. Religious zealots are an easy stereotype. But I don't think Hollywood is interested in attacking religion, not when those of Christian faith for example comprise the majority of their audiences.

Super isn't necessarily attacking religion, nor is Wilson's character really a religious zealot, though to be fair it's also not a product of a Hollywood studio so maybe that's beside the point.

[number8]

I know, I was mostly kidding around, but they are two of about a half dozen film credits to his name, and it felt like that was worth pointing out amongst his name being thrown around with a seemingly "he can do no wrong"-type of aura to it. They aren't exactly the sort of thing I can blame him for writing though, seeing as they may have strangely given him the sort of pull needed to make something like Slither.

FYI, Gunn's original script was a full-on throwback stoner movie for older Scooby-Doo fans, where Shaggy and Scooby smoke pot and Velma and Daphne are lesbians. They used this script to get the cast to sign on, then they hired Raja Gosnell and gutted the project to make it a kids movie. There are some interviews with Gellar, Cardellini, etc projecting disappointment about being somewhat duped into it.

You can find some traces of Gunn's script still leftover in the movie. They didn't bother changing Isla Fisher's character's name (Mary Jane), so a couple of the more subtle pot jokes slipped in.

"I'm Mary Jane."
"Like, that's my favorite name!"

[Henry Gale]

FYI, Gunn's original script was a full-on throwback stoner movie for older Scooby-Doo fans, where Shaggy and Scooby smoke pot and Velma and Daphne are lesbians. They used this script to get the cast to sign on, then they hired Raja Gosnell and gutted the project to make it a kids movie. There are some interviews with Gellar, Cardellini, etc projecting disappointment about being somewhat duped into it.

You can find some traces of Gunn's script still leftover in the movie. They didn't bother changing Isla Fisher's character's name (Mary Jane), so a couple of the more subtle pot jokes slipped in.

"I'm Mary Jane."
"Like, that's my favorite name!"

Haha I vaguely remember hearing that before, apparently with them even filming some more overtly lesbian parts when they all switch bodies that obviously never got released. There's also the scene (if I remember correctly, since I probably last saw it when I was 13) where we see smoke coming out of the Mystery Machine with Shaggy and Scooby laughing while "Pass The Dutchie" plays, only to reveal that they're cooking burgers on a grill inside.

The second movie is basically just an old episode of the show stretched to 90 minutes.

[Dukefrukem]

This was funny. Exactly what I was hoping out of Gunn and you can see some Slither parallels. A lot more gruesome than I was expecting. I'm still in love with Ellen Page.

[transmogrifier]

Shouldn't this be moved to make way for another upcoming remake/reboot/sequel?

[balmakboor]

That looked great. It's now on my must see list.

P.S. - I barely liked Kick-Ass at all. This looks much more solid.

[balmakboor]

"Maybe writer-director James Gunn intended it as a joke, but after the camera lingers on the young heroine with a third of her face blown off, it's hard to laugh."

Didn't Ebert say almost the exact same thing about Kick-Ass?

Raiders -- added spoilers to Ebert's revealing quote

[Raiders]

Yeah, I'm going to spoiler tag Ebert's quote above. I'm seeing this on Wednesday and pretty sure that gave away a pretty big character fate.

[balmakboor]

Yeah, I'm going to spoiler tag Ebert's quote above. I'm seeing this on Wednesday and pretty sure that gave away a pretty big character fate.

Ooops.

[number8]

Sorry, Raiders. Yeah, there were a lot of very angry people on the internet because of that Ebert review.

[MadMan]

I accidently stumbled onto that bit of info while on the IMDB.com message boards. Hey sometimes I get bored and wander onto them....


FYI, Gunn's original script was a full-on throwback stoner movie for older Scooby-Doo fans, where Shaggy and Scooby smoke pot and Velma and Daphne are lesbians. They used this script to get the cast to sign on, then they hired Raja Gosnell and gutted the project to make it a kids movie. There are some interviews with Gellar, Cardellini, etc projecting disappointment about being somewhat duped into it.

You can find some traces of Gunn's script still leftover in the movie. They didn't bother changing Isla Fisher's character's name (Mary Jane), so a couple of the more subtle pot jokes slipped in.

"I'm Mary Jane."
"Like, that's my favorite name!"Too bad that movie never happened. Well not only for the lesbian factor of course (*shifty*) but also because Shaggy and Scooby as pot heads sounds rather funny and spot on. Reminds me of that Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law episode where Harvey has to defend Scooby and Shaggy for having been busted with getting high in the van.

[Dukefrukem]

nm

[Henry Gale]

I really don't feel like this should be pushed as a comedy at all. It feels like the most grim parts of Observe & Report stretched out for a whole hour and a half and reappropriated to superheroes. But to me, it's definitely a better movie than Kick-Ass in the sense that it manages to find actual emotional weight to things despite its severely unusual storytelling mechanics and crazier moments. I guess I'm way less impressed by how Matthew Vaughn's movie seemed to rely way too much on comedic payoffs or pop culture reference points to hopefully please and engage its audience. Plus, this to me is a much more interesting way of trying to make the "what if a regular guy became a superhero?" scenario effective since it seems to actually try to feel real.

And Super could have easily been the stereotypical indie movie version of this sort of story that finds itself being overly twee or stilted with its quirks and mannerisms, but it doesn't, and that may be because there isn't a single outright cute moment to be found outside of its opening credits. It's a sad, ugly movie with some genuinely shocking moments, and then sometimes you get fun, gratifying thrills which tend to come at the exact moments they do for Wilson's character. Despite all of that, Gunn also finds a way to get the film to a cathartic ending that's hopeful and almost kind of moving.

This may also be the first time I've liked Rainn Wilson in anything. It's only in the few moments his character is painted as a bit too awkward and socially inept that I felt they overdid things. But overall, he carries the movie in a way that definitely sets the right tone early on for the story and the eventual arc the film will have him get to.

***

[Sycophant]

Comparisons to Observe & Report are apt, and it'd be hard for me to fathom any such comparison coming up as favorable to Super. Gunn's film is ugly and unfunny and seems to say just about the same thing from minute 15 to minute 90. There were a couple of moments I thought were clever (the "look behind you" bit near the end), but most everything's too awful for me to find enjoyable. Perhaps the material could've been whittled down to a 20-minute short or otherwise reworked, but I ultimately found this a truly unpleasant slog.

(Full disclosure: Observe & Report is of my favorite films of recent years.)

[Dukefrukem]

Awww unfunny? Are you a fan of Rainn Wilson? A lot of people find his shtick annoying so it might have contributed to your viewing. I’m also in love with Ellen Page so that helps me appreciate this more.

[Sycophant]

Whatever comedy there was failed so much as comedy for me, I'd be hard pressed to identify what was supposed to be funny. I think Henry Gale's suggestion that this not be sold as a comedy at all is about right. It's just grim and bleak. There's an air of absurdity, but it's just too fucked up to land as a joke for me.

Though I don't care for The Office or Wilson's performance in it, I don't think any such prejudices carried over. In fact, I thought he performed his role here quite well.

So ya know, I too think Page is cute and adorable and a pretty good actress and I may even have a tiny bit of a crush on her. Pity I dislike most of the movies I've seen her in.

[Chac Mool]

I disliked it when I first saw it, and dislike it more in retrospect. Forget the fact that it's well-acted and (occasionally) witty -- it exploits that "wallowing-in-misery" vibe more than just about any movie in recent memory. It's hart to root for a hero when he's a borderline sociopath, no matter how well-intentioned, and Ellen Page's character (maybe the highlight of the film) is just as unsettlingly deranged. The whole thing feels unpleasant, a little like watching a therapy session or a parole hearing.

[D_Davis]

The whole thing feels unpleasant, a little like watching a therapy session or a parole hearing.

I get this vibe from a lot of modern comedies.

[number8]

I just really like weird movies that can disarm me with its tone.