Superhero Movie Parent Guide

Parent Movie Review
by Rod Gustafson

The “brains” (an easily debatable word choice) behind the Scary Movie franchise are continuing to crank out spoofs aimed at teen audiences, and this time cinematic superheroes are the target of the comedy.

During a field trip, high school student Rick Riker (Drake Bell) is bitten by a genetically altered dragonfly and suddenly develops talents that allow him to scale tall buildings and move quickly (although it does nothing to alleviate his klutzy tendencies). Meanwhile, as the superhero develops, so does bad guy Lou Landers (Christopher McDonald). Owner of a mega-research company, Launders’ attempts to find a cure for his secret terminal illness inadvertently reveals a way for him to become immortal—but it requires he take the life force of others. Now, in his evil quest for personal health, he dons the name “The Hourglass” and begins wearing a ridiculous costume.

Just like other movies in this genre, any effort to string together a plot are quickly overshadowed by a continual onslaught of crass jokes, sexual sight gags, and physical humor that often comes across as more cruel (like an elderly woman being fed into a wood mulching machine) than slapstick.

Sexual scenarios range from moments of implied bestiality to a ridiculously tasteless (perhaps even sad) scene of an aging Leslie Neilson (who plays Rick’s uncle) straddling a female corpse while rubbing her breasts and simulating sexual movements. Bathroom humor is in abundance as well, along with a way too long scene of Rick’s aunt (played by Marion Ross who saw much better scripts when she was Mrs. Cunningham in Happy Days) having a flatulence attack while snoozing on the sofa.

Not satisfied with sex and scatology, this film also eagerly ventures into offensive situations involving real life people played by look-a-like actors. The “fun” includes beating the Dali Lama’s head on a podium, poking fun of Catholic clergy, and snubbing Nelson Mandela. Perhaps the worst setup is a foul-mouthed wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking who complains about his lesbian nurse, and endorses suicide and illegal drug use at a high school. Later he is abused with a swarm of bees, hot coffee falling on his lap and eventually tossed from the roof of a building.

All of this content is very similar to other films from this conveyor belt company. Another common trait of their work is the short running time—after all, it’s hard to stretch a plot so thin to the length of a “normal” feature. However, the creative team has come up with a solution to avoid having their audiences leaving feeling ripped off. They pad the credits with yet another ten minutes of clipped scenes and silly nonsense. It’s a heroic effort sure to fill your teens’ minds with trash and empty their wallets of cash.

Starring Drake Bell, Leslie Nielsen, Leslie Paxton, Christopher McDonald.. Theatrical release March 27, 2008. Updated April 14, 2009

About author

Rod Gustafson

Rod Gustafson has worked in various media industries since 1977. He founded Parent Previews in 1993, and today continues to write and broadcast the reviews in newspapers, on radio and (of course) on the Internet. His efforts also include writing and researching media in all its forms and observing how it effects society and culture. He and his wife Donna have four children.

Superhero Movie
Rating & Content Info

Why is Superhero Movie rated PG-13? Superhero Movie is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for crude and sexual content, comic violence, drug references and language.

Just like other movies in this genre, any effort to string together a plot are quickly overshadowed by a continual onslaught of crass jokes, sexual sight gags, and physical humor that often comes across as more cruel (like an elderly woman being fed into a wood mulching machine) than slapstick.

Sexual scenarios range from moments of implied bestiality to a ridiculously tasteless (perhaps even sad) scene of an aging Leslie Neilson (who plays Rick’s uncle) straddling a female corpse while rubbing her breasts and simulating sexual movements. Bathroom humor is in abundance as well, along with a way too long scene of Rick’s aunt (played by Marion Ross who saw much better scripts when she was Mrs. Cunningham in Happy Days) having a flatulence attack while snoozing on the sofa.

Not satisfied with sex and scatology, this film also eagerly ventures into offensive situations involving real life people played by look-a-like actors. The “fun” includes beating the Dali Lama’s head on a podium, poking fun of Catholic clergy, and snubbing Nelson Mandela. Perhaps the worst setup is a foul-mouthed wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking who complains about his lesbian nurse, and endorses suicide and illegal drug use at a high school. Later he is abused with a swarm of bees, hot coffee falling on his lap and eventually tossed from the roof of a building.

All of this content is very similar to other films from this conveyor belt company. Another common trait of their work is the short running time—after all, it’s hard to stretch a plot so thin to the length of a “normal” feature. However, the creative team has come up with a solution to avoid having their audiences leaving feeling ripped off. They pad the credits with yet another ten minutes of clipped scenes and silly nonsense. It’s a heroic effort sure to fill your teens’ minds with trash and empty their wallets of cash.

Beyond the movie ratings: What parents need to know about Superhero Movie...

Crass sexual humor pervades this spoof of the superhero genre. Characters use crude and anatomical terms. Female breasts and male crouches are fondled. Copulating, with both the living and the dead, is depicted (although the participants are clothed). A teenaged girl is shown in her bra, while a peeping neighbor lustfully looks on. Bodily functions, such as vomiting and flatulence, are portrayed, while women’s health and famine hygiene products are poked fun off. A character with a full bladder has a difficult time when he tries not to urinate on another. References are made to illegal drug use, and misused medicinal injections, cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol are portrayed. Violence, mostly played for laughs, includes pratfalls, beatings, impalings, hitting with objects, gunshots, and falling from heights. Murder is implied (groans of the dying are heard), and death results from rapid aging (corpses shown) and a mulching machine (the victim’s feet are seen slowly disappearing into the chopping blades). Suicide is mentioned in a casual manner. Explosions, bombs, and combusting superheroes are also part of the plot. Animals and insects are not exempt from the comedic slaughter and are depicted bursting into flames, leaving excrement for people to fall into, as well as biting and stinging. In addition, a menagerie of critters attempts to mate with a man. Many mild and moderate profanities (especially scatological slang and derogatory references to women) are heard, along with a sexual expletive and terms of deity. Slurs are made against religious groups, peace activists, sexual orientation, the elderly and celebrities.

Page last updated April 14, 2009