Special - DaaVeeDee

Special (DVD) (*)

~~$26.99~~ $20.97

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
82 min

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 2006 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Written By:
Hal Haberman
Jeremy Passmore

Actors:
Michael Rapaport ..... Les
Paul Blackthorne ..... Jonas Exiler
Josh Peck ..... Joey
Robert Baker ..... Everett
Jack Kehler ..... Dr. Dobson
Alexandra Holden ..... Maggie
Ian Bohen ..... Ted Exiler
Christopher Darga ..... Steve
Erich Anderson ..... Newscaster
David Bear ..... Man on Elevator
Karyn Bryant ..... News Co-host
Amanda Carlin ..... Mugging Victim
Howard Ferguson ..... Homeless Man
Howard Ferguson-Woitzman ..... Homeless Man
Andrew Leeds ..... Bitter Lonely Guy
Ian McConnel ..... Sweet Lonely Guy
Patricia Ann Nelson ..... Pregnant Teen
Natalie Richter ..... Receptionist
Franc Ross ..... Crackhead
Matthew Troyer ..... Tall Guy
Michael Shamus Wiles ..... Police Officer

Synopsis:

Les Franken is a kind-hearted and soft-spoken man who loves reading comic books. He's the type of guy who most people walk by on the street without even noticing; in essence, he's completely average and virtually invisible. However, everything changes for Les the day he is accepted into an experimental drug study for a new and exciting anti-depressant, Specioprin Hydrochloride. As Les begins to take the drugs an unexpected side effect occurs--he begins to develop special powers: the ability to levitate, to read peoples' minds, and even walk through walls. Faced with the dilemma of how best to utilize his new 'powers,' the answer seems obvious to Les. He puts together a homemade superhero suit and hits the streets to fight crime and protect the world from the forces of evil. Surveillance video soon exposes Les and his actions to the public via television news and therefore brings him to the attention of the businessmen developing the drug. Worried about the bad publicity Les is bringing to their new anti-depressant, they attempt to put an end to his superhero antics before too much damage is done. However, in typical comic book fashion, Les sees the men from the drug company as his evil arch nemeses--'The Suits'--men who want him to join them in their evil plan to use 'Special' to create an army of unstoppable assassins. Les refuses to play ball.

"Special" burdens its hero, Les Franken (Michael Rapaport), with a double dose of movie-loser shorthand: he's a traffic cop and comic-book fan. But a funny thing happens after he starts popping an experimental antidepressant called specioprin hydrochloride (trade-named "Special"). Les develops the ability to levitate, walk through walls and read people's minds. Awesome! Except that he is actually going bonkers. Written and directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore, "Special" puts an indie spin on the current Hollywood vogue for moody superhero psychodrama. Or looked at another way, it puts a Hollywood spin on the indie vogue for tales of solipsistic man-boys. Either way, it doesn't quite go far enough as psychological study or cultural commentary.

Comedy about a traffic warden who develops a 'psychotic' reaction to his medicine and becomes convinced that he is a superhero.

This product was added to our catalog on Sunday 29 March, 2009.