My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

I wanted to see My Super Ex-Girlfriend to learn how they carried off the concept of a superhero girlfriend -- turning the gender tables so Lois Lane is a guy and Superman is a woman (in this case, a *hot* one) -- as well as an ex-girlfriend who throws a hissyfit (and a live shark) at her jilting ex. G-Girl (Uma Thurman) has the best line of the movie: "You broke my heart. Now I'm going to break your EVERYTHING!" This movie is a fun riff off every Superman and superhero movie and cartoon (even Underdog) and the special effects are fine (although the blurry-fast-motion effect was sometimes overdone). We even learn (as in TV's Smallville) how G-Girl aka Jenny Johnson went to school with her nemesis, Prof. Bedlam aka Barry (Eddie Izzard), and how he became her sworn enemy (like a pouting adolescent boy even after becoming a criminal mastermind). We see how fast she falls in love with Matt (Luke Wilson), how she breaks his bed, how she discovers what a lout he is thanks to Hannah (Anna Faris), and the four-way mayhem that follows. Incidentally, it's nice when talking solves problems more than fighting. Here is a fun romp through the superhero trope from an angle not done before -- unless Wonder Woman has ever gone kinda psycho. To the movie's detractors: How many "worst ever" movies have you seen anyway? Of course it is ridiculous; it is a spoof. Of course it is not a 5-star Oscar nominee; it is a 3-star popcorn muncher. Of course it is not a children's film; it's rated PG-13. (If you think this is R-rated material, you don't understand R. See something other than Disney now and then. Nothing is shown other than a man and woman's head and shoulders in a close setting; if your 15-year-old can't handle this, be advised Disney may not hold his interest past age 16.) As you can tell from my reviews, I tend to appreciate the good and I don't believe the negative wipes out or cancels the good. 3.5 stars for technical appeal, 4 stars for emotional. (8-24-09 posted 8-29-09 updated 8-30-09)