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The Return Of Captain Invincible (1983)
Released By: Magnum Entertainment   Rating: PG   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: Magnum Entertainment
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Philippe Mora
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Alan Arkin, Bill Hunter, Christopher Lee, Graham Kennedy, Kate Fitzpatrick, Michael Pate
Published ID: 2882
UPC: 790594762421, 790594762520,
Plot: This patchy, uneven combination of fantasy and musical comedy is hilarious in parts and embarrassing in others, though the premise has great potential in itself -- a screwball Captain Invincible is out to save the world from his nemesis, Mr. Midnight, the white supremacist. Captain Invincible (Alan Arkin) is wallowing in his cups in the Australian outback when he receives an unusual call from the American President asking for his help. Unusual because the Captain had no choice but to go into exile after Joseph McCarthy's Un-American Activities Committee became suspicious of his red cape, and he has never been sober enough to recover from the shock. This history is given in a mock newsreel at the beginning of the film. But now Mr. Midnight is threatening to dismember New York City by convincing all the ethnic groups to live along the seashore. Once they are situated on beachfront property, he will blast out a crack in the earth behind them, cut their connection to the mainland, and send them drifting off into the Atlantic. It seems the dastardly Midnight has stolen the ultra-secret hypno-ray and can slice off New Jersey whenever he wants. Weakened by depression and alcohol, Captain Invincible is nursed back to full throttle by Patty Patria (Kate Fitzpatrick) and is soon ready to zoom over Sydney to the far side of the globe -- after practicing in harness in front of rear-projected scenes. Meanwhile, Mr. Midnight and his sidekick are all set to defend their turf, and their ability to slice it up -- though the (American) patriotic sentimentality that prevails in the end, after several other songs have come and gone, is summarized in a rendition of God Bless America that conflicts with the opening scenes and may leave foreign audiences cold. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Those bullets won't hurt me son! ("BAM") OUCH! OUCH!@ STOP SHOOTING!!!
Added 4/19/2008

Here is a obscure one for ya a movie that came and went in 83
THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE... It is set in 1942 and Captain
Invincible is a overweight alcoholic who is forgotten till Christopher
(DRACULA)Lee wants to take over the world(don't the bad guys ever want
to do something else???) This is no MASTERPIECE by any means but if
you have Pot Pie in the oven or laundry washing give this a looksie!
Best moments are when a U.S.A. plane is getting shot by the NAZI'S
and Captain Invincible is sitting on the nose of the plane drinking
a beer and having a smoke while the plane is going down and the
pilots are freaking out(not to worry Cap. saves them) and my favorite
is Christopher(DRACULA)Lee doing a song? That was written and aranged
by Richard(ROCKY HORROR)O'Brian the music in this is like HORROR
and not Shock Treatment...Better than CONDOR MAN...
Have to confess saw this and thought of my Bro's MR.K.I.A Stan RUNKDAPUNK
and WOOPAK

4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
If you can find a film stranger than this, buy it!
Added 7/23/2007

In an era when so many films are either sequels, pre-sold or derivative, "The Return of Captain Invincible" stands as a one-of-a-kind. It is quite possible the strangest film ever made, but at least it acknowledges that strangeness, even glories in it. The gist of the picture is that a wartime superhero, Captain Invincible (Alan Arkin), falls on hard times when his country suddenly decides he is subversive (a plot device not unlike that in Pixar's "The Incredibles," twenty years later). Driven under by HUAC (in fact, stock footage of Joe McCarthy appears in the movie), the superhero becomes an alcoholic living in Australia. But when the evil Mr. Midnight (Christopher Lee), a once-and-future Nazi, rears his ugly head with a plan to rid New York City of minorities, the President (1950's Hollywood veteran Michael Pate) seeks out his former hero to save the world.

What really makes this film unique, though, is that it is not simply a superhero spoof but a musical, with numbers that range from country to jazz to Vegas to Broadway to rock to a very funny spoof of the "Can You Read My Mind?" flying love scene from 1978's "Superman." There are many other conscious parodies as well, including riffs on "Dr. Strangelove" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (Captain Invincible and the heroine find themselves thrown into a "snake pit" of living vaccuum cleaners). Arkin, who started his career as a folksinger, has a very pleasing voice and the amazing ability to adapt it to the style of the song (in one he imitates Bing Crosby, in another Sinatra). The real showstopper, though, is Christopher Lee's big number, a "Rocky Horror"-inspired rock song (by the same composers) in which Midnight tries to force Captain Invincible back off the wagon by tempting him with a well stocked bar. This is the film's best known scene, and it must be said that the sight of Lee singing and dancing with a bevy of scantily clad henchgirls has to be seen to be believed.

"The Return of Captain Invincible" has its share of dud gags, but overall, its infectuous goofiness and a few pretty good songs carry the day.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Captain Invincible
Added 6/3/2007

I had not seen this movie for years and when I came across it on Amazon I said I must have it. It is a mix between the Rocky Horror show and Greatest American Hero. An enjoyable movie.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
The Music And Songs Seriously Save This Poor Movie
Added 5/31/2005

This movie is not good , the plot is below average, the acting is poor the special effects boring, but! the songs written by Richard O'Brien of "rocky horror" fame are great and,it is worth watching tjis movie for the songs and music alone!, or watch it with friends if you want to see how they react to this very strange movie.
2 out of 6 people found this helpful.
SO bad, it's great
Added 3/28/2003

Finally my own copy of this cult masterpiece.

Just for plain loopiness you must watch, if not own this. Christopher Lee sings! The humour is corney but good natured, an everyday story of good versus evil (I have sent back the morally repugnant, socially decrepit peoples back to the bowls of the Earth they came from - Congratulations Midnight you really are a genius (or something similar)

This is a classic

Magnet On........


6 out of 6 people found this helpful.
Those bullets won't hurt me son! ("BAM") OUCH! OUCH!@ STOP SHOOTING!!!
Added 4/19/2008

Here is a obscure one for ya a movie that came and went in 83
THE RETURN OF CAPTAIN INVINCIBLE... It is set in 1942 and Captain
Invincible is a overweight alcoholic who is forgotten till Christopher
(DRACULA)Lee wants to take over the world(don't the bad guys ever want
to do something else???) This is no MASTERPIECE by any means but if
you have Pot Pie in the oven or laundry washing give this a looksie!
Best moments are when a U.S.A. plane is getting shot by the NAZI'S
and Captain Invincible is sitting on the nose of the plane drinking
a beer and having a smoke while the plane is going down and the
pilots are freaking out(not to worry Cap. saves them) and my favorite
is Christopher(DRACULA)Lee doing a song? That was written and aranged
by Richard(ROCKY HORROR)O'Brian the music in this is like HORROR
and not Shock Treatment...Better than CONDOR MAN...
Have to confess saw this and thought of my Bro's MR.K.I.A Stan RUNKDAPUNK
and WOOPAK

4 out of 4 people found this helpful.
If you can find a film stranger than this, buy it!
Added 7/23/2007

In an era when so many films are either sequels, pre-sold or derivative, "The Return of Captain Invincible" stands as a one-of-a-kind. It is quite possible the strangest film ever made, but at least it acknowledges that strangeness, even glories in it. The gist of the picture is that a wartime superhero, Captain Invincible (Alan Arkin), falls on hard times when his country suddenly decides he is subversive (a plot device not unlike that in Pixar's "The Incredibles," twenty years later). Driven under by HUAC (in fact, stock footage of Joe McCarthy appears in the movie), the superhero becomes an alcoholic living in Australia. But when the evil Mr. Midnight (Christopher Lee), a once-and-future Nazi, rears his ugly head with a plan to rid New York City of minorities, the President (1950's Hollywood veteran Michael Pate) seeks out his former hero to save the world.

What really makes this film unique, though, is that it is not simply a superhero spoof but a musical, with numbers that range from country to jazz to Vegas to Broadway to rock to a very funny spoof of the "Can You Read My Mind?" flying love scene from 1978's "Superman." There are many other conscious parodies as well, including riffs on "Dr. Strangelove" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (Captain Invincible and the heroine find themselves thrown into a "snake pit" of living vaccuum cleaners). Arkin, who started his career as a folksinger, has a very pleasing voice and the amazing ability to adapt it to the style of the song (in one he imitates Bing Crosby, in another Sinatra). The real showstopper, though, is Christopher Lee's big number, a "Rocky Horror"-inspired rock song (by the same composers) in which Midnight tries to force Captain Invincible back off the wagon by tempting him with a well stocked bar. This is the film's best known scene, and it must be said that the sight of Lee singing and dancing with a bevy of scantily clad henchgirls has to be seen to be believed.

"The Return of Captain Invincible" has its share of dud gags, but overall, its infectuous goofiness and a few pretty good songs carry the day.

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Captain Invincible
Added 6/3/2007

I had not seen this movie for years and when I came across it on Amazon I said I must have it. It is a mix between the Rocky Horror show and Greatest American Hero. An enjoyable movie.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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