With Hollywood so obsessed with easily-bankable superheroes, sooner or later you were going to get a spate of movies making fun of them.However, 'Special' isn't one of them. It, like another similarly-themed film called 'Defendor,' is a different take on the genre. If you want a parody of a superhero film then watch something slapstick like 'Superhero Movie' (which, incidentally, is the cinematic equivalent of self harm). 'Special' is about a decent, well-meaning man who signs on for some experimental drugs-testing trials. The results make him believe he has superpowers. Obviously, he doesn't. Here might have been the time to add in some really funny jokes into the mix. Special doesn't. It's a sad take on seeing a rotten world through the eyes of a man who wants to do the right thing, but doesn't really know how - or even get it right.I found this film sad and poignant rather than laugh-a-minute. If people do think it's funny, then it's the blackest black comedy around.It won't be for everyone. It's low budget is visible from time to time and it goes without saying that there are know well-known actors in it.Did I enjoy it? Yes, but you have to be in the mood for something a little heavier than Toby Maguire in red and blue tights.Uplifting and heart-warming it is. The X-Men it is not.

It took me quite a while to get past the cinematography. I could find no reason why the entire film was shot hand-held. It brought nothing to the story and was extremely distracting until I got past it and and started appreciating the acting and story. All DP's and directors should know when to put the camera on sticks and trust the actors to bring motion and emotion to the frame. The music was another stumbling bock for me. Extremely obvious and over the top choices were made throughout - and what's truly unfortunate is that I recognized a number of loops that were used in creating the score. Not a good sign. Having said all of this - I still laud the writers and directors for their effort and the actors for their work as well.

I'd recommend this film to anyone with a brain.I just got this movie from the pound shop on DVD. I'm ignoring the camera work at the beginning. It seems to want to be like a Docu-Movie or some such.. This style mellows a little and becomes more pallet-able, once the bad Piano player stops trying to impart empathy into the scenes.Really my only problem with this film is the style its shot in and the hackneyed sound track. If it wasn't for that I'd give it a ten because it really is a great film. Great story, great acting.Its on my must See List

Honestly, this movie is in no way funny - although it could have been, and although it sometimes really made the impression that it was somehow intended to be funny. But it was just tragic. And what was really annoying, was the soundtrack, which was so entirely depressing and really got me close to turn off the movie at times, because it added such a thoroughly negative atmosphere. I couldn't help thinking "if anyone laughs at this, they have a serious empathy problem". Plus i believe, because of the way the story was told and the emotional bias thats created, this movie really drowned somehow. And it surely could have been, fore-mentioned negatives put aside, a pretty good one.