SLIFF 2014 Review – THE IMPERSONATORS

THE IMPERSONATORS screens as part of the 23rd Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival on Monday, November 17 at Landmark’s Tivoli Theatre at 9 PM. Get ticket information here

The Avengers they aint’! For those looking for an alternative to the big screen super-hero smashfests, THE IMPERSONATORS just may be up your alley. This is the story of a lovable bunch of losers and goofballs donning spandex as part of their jobs at Supers for Rent, an agency that sends them out to entertain at events and private parties. Leading the motley crew is Les (Josh Arnold), a surly, stout, slovenly, bespectacled stand-in for “Mr. Super” (a take-off on that “strange visitor from another planet”). The other employees bare little resemblance to the comic book originals ( “The Flying Fox” just got his AARP card. his teenage sidekick “Sparrow” is not far behind, “H2Joe” is terrified of the water, and “Captain USA” speaks with a thick Aussie accent, mate!) aside from their ill-fitting costumes. But just as Les is replaced by a younger,very buff newbie, the whole team is hired by the depressed little burg of Rockwell to cheer the citizens up and get the town back on its feet. But when they raise the ire of local gangster Winston (who resembles a bearded African-American version of Marvel Comics’ crime boss “The Kingpin”), Les and his co-workers must summon their courage and try to become real heroes. Or else!

Director Joshua Hull, working from the script he co-wrote with Arnold, delivers a very rude and crude, low-down parody that’s not for those easily offended. Bodily function and fluid gags (literally) run rampant as the bumbling bozos trip over their own capes. The film makers aim for a low, low-budget variation of THE MYSTERY MEN and James Gunn’s early effort THE SPECIALS and achieves a Mickey and Judy “Hey, kid’s lets put on a show!” vibe. There’s even some clever usage of comic book art for scene transitions and flashbacks. The cast’s a tad unpolished, but energetic, and there some inventive twists on old action flick clichés. They may not be age-appropriate for your tot’s birthday celebration, but for some raunchy laughs, THE IMPERSONATORS may be just the super-team for you.  Just be sure and hide the cake!