Super Capers

After running afoul of the law, costumed-crimefighter-wannabe Ed Gruberman (Justin Whalin) receives an unusual sentence from the judge (Michael Rooker): hard time at Super Capers, a kind of halfway house for superheroes who actually possess real superpowers, including man of steel Will Powers (Ryan McPartlin); Felicia Freeze (Danielle Harris), who can turn almost anything into ice; Puffer Boy (writer-director Ray Griggs), who changes into a blowfish whenever frightened; and telekinetic Herbert Brainard (Samuel Lloyd). Ultimately unleashed on the world, the newly minted team of superheroes is tasked with a time-travel quest to find a fortune in missing gold bullion. Griggs turns this good-natured spoof into the live-action version of an uninspired Saturday-morning cartoon show, replete with painfully unfunny gags delivered with poor comic timing. While undiscriminating 10-year-olds might be mildly entertained (at best), everyone else will find Super Capers a super pain in the spandex to endure. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Ray Griggs, an eight-minute “making-of” featurette, four deleted scenes, the original storyboard gallery, a digital comic book, and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a lame family film.] (E. Hulse)