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Mark Hamill,
Mark Hamill,
Roger Rose,
more...
:
Mark Hamill,
Mark Hamill
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: Miramax
: Comedies, Mockumentary, Mockumentaries
: English
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Mark Hamill directs and stars in the straight-to-video mockumentary Comic Book: The Movie, largely filmed on-location at the 2002 Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. Comic book fan Donald Swan (Hamill) is hired to make a documentary about his favorite superheroes: Commander Courage and Liberty Ladd. A big Hollywood film company has funded an action blockbuster about the legendary superhero, although with an updated image. Commander Courage becomes an aggressive anti-terrorist played by Bruce Easley (Daran Norris) and his sidekick becomes sexed-up eye candy Papaya Smith (Donna D'Errico). Traditionalist Swan fights to save the dignity of his beloved hero. His documentary crew consists of studio executive Taylor Donohue (Roger Rose) and intoxicated cameraman Ricky (Jess Harnell). A consultant on the project is Leo Matuzik (Billy West), the grandson of the original character creator. Kevin Smith, Hugh Hefner, Bruce Campbell, and Stan Lee appear as themselves. Legendary actors Sid Caesar and Jonathan Winters play a pair of old army buddies who reminisce about the good old days. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
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| Probably for Geeks Only
by Moriarty
May 19, 2005 - 7:53 AM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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I kind of enjoyed this movie, but that's because I'm a huge comic geek. Comic Book:The Movie is a faux documentary that centers around Don Swan (Mark Hamill,) as an aging comic geek and devout fan of Commander Courage. It seems a Hollywood studio wants to make a movie using an updated version of the character and they want Swan to sign off on their version in his fanzine. But of course, they are changing everything about the character that Swan loves. Hamill convincingly plays the overenthusiastic Swan. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fans Hamill himself meets at various conventions.
Being the geek that I am, I can see the parrallels that this movie is making with many of the recent Hollywood adaptations of comic books. (Catwoman anyone?) And to it's credit, this movie gives you both sides of the debates; Hollywood's lack of respect for the chracters and the geeks' over-obsessive insistence on continuity and minutia. Both sides are played for laughs and are a little overemphasized. But even so, you get a feeling that this may not be too far removed from the truth. I can say from expierience that I've had some of the conversations that you get to see in the movie. Old costume or updated version? Who should play him/her? Origin story or something new? And of course, original or updated hero?
But the major flaw of this movie is that it really is for geeks only. A lot of the references, cameos, and in jokes will only make sense to a very specific set of fans. And I doubt most people would be interested in seeing the footage of the San Diego Comic Con, where most of the movie is set. Let's face it, if you don't get why someone would spend the time and money to go to a convention dressed as Aquaman, this probably isn't your movie. |
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