Mystery Men
Universal Pictures | Release Date: August 6, 1999 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews
Positive:
15
Mixed:
9
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
Maybe it's no mystery how they did it, considering the aggregate comic talent, but this bunch achieves peaks of sublime nuttiness. Read full review
80
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
It's clever, amusing, clever, visually inventive, clever, well-cast . Read full review
80
New Times (L.A.)Hal Hinson
The movie seems almost loving toward its characters, so much so that we can't help but fall for this gang of losers. Read full review
80
SlateDavid Edelstein
One of those half-straight, half-spoof comic-book extravaganzas that don't ever work, and what's neat is that this one does--beautifully. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Gleefully, goofily over-the-top. Read full review
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Simon Houpt
This spoof's heart is genuinely warm. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
At long last, someone has crafted a worthwhile superhero spoof. Read full review
75
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
They're a ragtag assembly for sure, and the results aren't pretty. But on a simple mission of entertainment, they get the job done. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyF. X. Feeney
Mystery Men gives proof that satire isn't dead. Read full review
70
VarietyGodfrey Chesire
Sharply written, with a lavish look and top-drawer effects adding to the appeal of its large and talented cast, pic achieves a nice balance of fondness and satiric snap, character laughs and goofy action. Read full review
70
NewsweekLaura Shin
A lightly entertaining, though not hilarious, film parody of comic book heroes. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
The characters have been designed to make fun of themselves, disguising the craft of writer Neil Cuthbert and director Kinka Usher in getting us to laugh at them. Read full review
70
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
A terrific offbeat cast operating on one shared, loony wavelength. Read full review
70
Village VoiceGary Dauphin
Mystery Men is wryly sentimental stuff, but it's also pretty sharp. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
This hip send-up of the superhero lifestyle has a bunch of great comic bits from a group of great, eccentric talents, but not enough bourgeois discipline to see the story through. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
This loving parody is steeped in comic book trivia and lore: The more you know, the more heartfelt your response to the film is likely to be. Read full review
60
Washington PostMichael O'Sullivan
One half of a very funny movie, and half a funny movie is better than none. Read full review
60
Film ThreatRon Wells
At least the studio hired enough likable scene-stealing actors and comedians to carry the bloated carcass of this film over the course of two hours. Read full review
60
Washington PostRita Kempley
A live-action cartoon without dramatic focus, a solid structure or discernible theme. Read full review
50
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The movie will disappoint people expecting a genuine superhero epic or an over-the-top spoof. But those in the mood for an offbeat satire with a gifted cast will have a surprisingly good time. Read full review
50
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
It's a long, shapeless, undisciplined mess, and every once in awhile it generates a big laugh. Read full review
50
SalonStephanie Zacharek
Mystery Men is supposed to be an action comedy, but there isn't nearly enough of either. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
Mystery Men must have seemed magically goofy on storyboards, but has somehow turned into unappealing mush by the time it made it to the screen. Read full review
50
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
The characters are funny and the cast's characterizations right on, but the movie repeatedly lets them down. Read full review
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