Superhero Me reviews
Review by on 28 Sep 2010
Ever fancied becoming a superhero? If so it's advisable that you watch SUPERHERO ME, a film exploring the “real life superheroes” that inspired this year's comic book adaptation KICK-ASS, from director Steve Sale.
In the vein of “Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends” Sale goes on a journey to find out if he's got what it takes to become a superhero, and talks to comic book fans, fitness instructors and his family to find out what he needs to do.
Hilariously, Sale uncovers several obstacles that are strangely absent from the superhero genre, such as how to go to the bathroom in a one piece Lycra suit, how to deal with the vicious body odour arising from all his crime fighting and how to keep his hero persona anonymous.
The film is at its most interesting when Sale meets other active superheroes. These characters and the stories they have to tell are both interesting and unsettling. They are extroverts that work on the fringes of society, and whether they are a hindrance or a help to the society they claim to protect is debatable.
This is a fun and light hearted documentary that still has some thought provoking points to put across.
Paul Backhouse
In the vein of “Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends” Sale goes on a journey to find out if he's got what it takes to become a superhero, and talks to comic book fans, fitness instructors and his family to find out what he needs to do.
Hilariously, Sale uncovers several obstacles that are strangely absent from the superhero genre, such as how to go to the bathroom in a one piece Lycra suit, how to deal with the vicious body odour arising from all his crime fighting and how to keep his hero persona anonymous.
The film is at its most interesting when Sale meets other active superheroes. These characters and the stories they have to tell are both interesting and unsettling. They are extroverts that work on the fringes of society, and whether they are a hindrance or a help to the society they claim to protect is debatable.
This is a fun and light hearted documentary that still has some thought provoking points to put across.
Paul Backhouse
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
Engaging and interesting low-budget film following the director's attempts to investigate the world of the Real Life Superhero. Happily, Sale doesn't take his own efforts too seriously, even while achieving some success at publicising himself as a defender of the weak (albeit without actually performing any genuine acts of bravery), but this appears more as window-dressing for the core of the film, which charts meetings with a few of the bona fide RLSs pounding the streets in the US and Italy. The eye-opening scenes in Orlando as Sale (aka 'SOS') shadows 'The Master Legend', a man who appears to have led a difficult and rough life, yet come out the other side with a touching concern for those left in the gutter by consumerist America, are the highlight of the film, and handled with a wonderfully detached sensitivity by Sale (generally by allowing the audience to interpret Master Legend's diatribes without attempting to ram his own view of the situation down viewers' throats). The light-hearted scenes keep things moving along with a sense of direction, culminating in a monstrous yet somehow appropriate anti-climax when SOS (Sale's super-alter-ego) turns up late to his big breakthrough public appearance. The sound is poor in places, due to the live recording in windy environments with inadequate microphone shielding (necessitating subtitles for a short section). Occasionally there is a slightly juvenile feel when it degenerates into silliness between the cameraman and Sale, but this is understandable given the amount of spandex knocking about. Nicely edited, the definitive comic moment is a brilliant shot when SOS pulls up alongside a black cab at a set of traffic lights in London. Definitely worth watching, and top marks to the Director and his co-conspirator wife Charlotte (who clearly provides a significant contribution in ideas and support, not to mention putting up with a postponed honeymoon following their wedding due to Sale bailing for the US after receiving The Call from the Master Legend!). SOS to the rescue!
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
Whether it be a crime fighting saviour, evil nemesis or magical princess all of us have at one time aspired to be a hero. In this documentary Steve Sale sets out to realise the childhood dream and become a real life superman but first he must prove that he has what it takes to patrol the streets…and look good in spandex.
A crash diet, a broken motorised scooter and having to wear a disguise just to get his super-suit dry-cleaned are just a few of the trials that Sale faces. Whilst you may think “what a nutter” Sale is constantly aware of what he is doing (namely cycling along the streets of London in yellow cat suit) and shows incredible courage achievable only by a man in a Mexican wrestler mask on a chopper bike.
Throughout his journey Sale visits some other real life superheroes such as the green clad Italian – Entomo, and the Florida crime fighter – Master Legend. Whilst in Florida the film takes a more serious tone as Master Legend shows Sale the poorest areas of Orlando in order to demonstrate how many people there are rendered homeless and how he hopes to make life a little better for them.
Shot on a multitude of different cameras, and at one point including cell phone footage, this documentary is la crème de la crème of low budget cinema. This is a story that must be told and as an audience member the occasional grainy image really didn’t matter, if anything it added to the realism, which contrasts Seal’s superhero mission perfectly.
If you are a fan of comic book heroes and graphic novels or Morgan Spurlock’s documentary SUPER SIZE ME then this film is a must see.
Jennie Devine
A crash diet, a broken motorised scooter and having to wear a disguise just to get his super-suit dry-cleaned are just a few of the trials that Sale faces. Whilst you may think “what a nutter” Sale is constantly aware of what he is doing (namely cycling along the streets of London in yellow cat suit) and shows incredible courage achievable only by a man in a Mexican wrestler mask on a chopper bike.
Throughout his journey Sale visits some other real life superheroes such as the green clad Italian – Entomo, and the Florida crime fighter – Master Legend. Whilst in Florida the film takes a more serious tone as Master Legend shows Sale the poorest areas of Orlando in order to demonstrate how many people there are rendered homeless and how he hopes to make life a little better for them.
Shot on a multitude of different cameras, and at one point including cell phone footage, this documentary is la crème de la crème of low budget cinema. This is a story that must be told and as an audience member the occasional grainy image really didn’t matter, if anything it added to the realism, which contrasts Seal’s superhero mission perfectly.
If you are a fan of comic book heroes and graphic novels or Morgan Spurlock’s documentary SUPER SIZE ME then this film is a must see.
Jennie Devine
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
The beginning of SUPERHERO ME is incredibly intelligent and pivotal in the acceptance of the film. Steve Sale addresses and excuses his documentary’s biggest weakness – its amateur and frequently sloppy camera work. He reasons that what he captures had to be done “by any means necessary” and therefore the occasional grainy compositions, poor lighting and distorted sound can be accepted as a necessity for the film’s progression.
Steve himself is an incredibly likeable host, with a brilliant sense of humour and a taste for shame that’s vital for much of the film. The film is entirely entertaining, drunken encounters mar many of SOS Man’s patrols to very amusing ends, and the mere sight of a man walking the streets in an incredibly luminous spandex costume to the bewilderment of the passing public is, in itself, quite funny.
Peculiarly however, SUPERHERO ME is, at points, quite poignant, even distressing. As Steve delves into the world of real life superheroes he meets Master Legend, a superhero dedicated to helping the homeless of Florida. However, his origins aren’t steeped in the classic medical-experiments-gone-awry that we’re so used to as a viewer, but instead in forced fights as a young boy, drunken beatings from his father, and the same drunk father’s eventual suicide. Suddenly the film hits a tone far less ‘comic-book’ and far more real. The central message of the documentary is about heroism, in all its shapes and forms, and a touching message it certainly is.
Daniel Harling
Steve himself is an incredibly likeable host, with a brilliant sense of humour and a taste for shame that’s vital for much of the film. The film is entirely entertaining, drunken encounters mar many of SOS Man’s patrols to very amusing ends, and the mere sight of a man walking the streets in an incredibly luminous spandex costume to the bewilderment of the passing public is, in itself, quite funny.
Peculiarly however, SUPERHERO ME is, at points, quite poignant, even distressing. As Steve delves into the world of real life superheroes he meets Master Legend, a superhero dedicated to helping the homeless of Florida. However, his origins aren’t steeped in the classic medical-experiments-gone-awry that we’re so used to as a viewer, but instead in forced fights as a young boy, drunken beatings from his father, and the same drunk father’s eventual suicide. Suddenly the film hits a tone far less ‘comic-book’ and far more real. The central message of the documentary is about heroism, in all its shapes and forms, and a touching message it certainly is.
Daniel Harling
