The Return of Captain Invincible (1983)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Philippe Mora

Writers:

Andrew Gaty (writer)
Peter Smalley (additional dialogue)

Release Date:

17 February 1984 (West Germany)

Genre:

Musical | Fantasy | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Look...Up on the Screen...Its Absurd...Its Insane...Its...

Plot:

In ww-ii Captain Invincible used his superpowers against the Nazis, was a hero. But then he got under suspect of supporting the communists...

Plot Keywords:

Superhero | Satire | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Captain Invincible
Christopher Lee	...	Mr. Midnight
Kate Fitzpatrick	...	Patty Patria
Bill Hunter	...	Tupper / Coach
Michael Pate	...	President
David Argue	...	Italian salesman
John Bluthal	...	Deli owner
Chelsea Brown	...	Tour guide
Max Cullen	...	Italian man
Arthur Dignam	...	Lawyer
Noel Ferrier	...	Air Force General
Hayes Gordon	...	Kirby
Chris Haywood	...	Maitre d'
Graham Kennedy	...	Prime Minister
Gus Mercurio	...	Noisy garbageman

Also Known As:

Legend in Leotards

Runtime:

Germany:96 min | USA:90 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Seven Keys

Quotes:

Mr. Midnight: Same old dreary demands. Self righteous, messianic, moralistic and increasingly tedious.
Captain Invincible: Fine talk from a sociopath paranoid schitzophrenic with delusions of grandeur.
Mr. Midnight: Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

Soundtrack:

Captain Invincible

A Curate's Egg - good in parts

This is a film that could have become a cult classic with better editing. Some bits just don't work - in the BBC TV showing these were edited out; if you can, get that version rather than the full version on DVD. If you do have the DVD version watch it once through then just skip the bits that left you cold.

The humour is mostly pretty low-brow, with some appalling puns, but there's more than one level; if you're a fan of DC or Marvel comics, watch sci-fi movies or know Australian and American politics and history there are some fine little gags buried in here.

There are also some very subtle sight gags - a film to watch the backgrounds as well as the foregrounds...

My particular favourite is what Christopher Lee eats in the film; watch the meal scenes and you'll see what I mean.

Don't worry too much about the plot - it is there and it makes sense, but it's a comic-book plot not a big story. Also, don't worry about some of the odder characters - they are ALL there for a reason, but if you haven't read/seen the right things you'll never work them out.

The songs are generally very clever and, despite the singing not being the best, well delivered. "Drinking Song" is probably the highlight, with Christopher Lee doing what he does best - showing his teeth and megalomaniac glare, although his "singing" is on a par with certain other actors (William Shatner and Telly Savalas come to mind). "Mr. Midnight" is also funny; shot as two scenes; Chris with leathers and whip, surrounded by scantily-clad dominatrices, Alan on a train trying to be anonymous whilst singing and dancing.

This is also Terry Pratchett's favourite film - I actually have one of his books signed "to the OTHER person who likes Captain Invincible". So there are at least *four* people in the world who loved this film - granted, the other two are my kids and they may be humouring their old man.