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Bad movie, good try
Friday July 18 2008 By Peter Muhvic, REWIND Superhero Movie
*1/2 out of ****

There are a number of reasons why I feel bad about slamming Superhero Movie.
Unlike pretty much all the other spoofs being made now (Date Movie, Epic Movie, etc.), Superhero Movie actually sticks to the genre it’s parodying. It’s a simple rule that should be obeyed, but more often than not something like American Idol gets screentime in something like Meet the Spartans. They should at least sorta be related, no?
So bravo to Superhero Movie for at least showing some focus.
It’s a shame that the film’s focus couldn’t translate into more laughs. The structure and the targets are all fine for this type of movie, but the comic timing is just dreadful.
Punchlines either don’t feel like punchlines or they feel too much like punchlines, with music cues, obvious staging, and mugging actors making sure we all get it.
I also feel bad about slamming the film’s star, Drake Bell. He looks like he’s trying really hard, and you get the impression he really cares about whether or not we’re entertained.
But his endless string of unfunny over-the-top double takes and looks of bewilderment kill most of the jokes. Anna Faris, in the Scary Movie franchise, proved that a talented performer can take even unfunny dialogue and slapstick and make it something you can at least smile at. All Bell does, sadly, is take unfunny material and prove without a doubt that it’s unfunny.
There are a few scattershot moments where a chuckle might find its way out of your mouth, but those are pretty rare. Superhero Movie, though it’s trying hard, demonstrates very few powers.

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