Main Cast: Mark Hamill, Roger Rose, Jess Harnell, Donna D'Errico, Billy West
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Mark Hamill directs and stars in the straight-to-video mockumentary Comic Book: The Movie, largely filmed on-location at the 2002 Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA. Comic book fan Donald Swan (Hamill) is hired to make a documentary about his favorite superheroes: Commander Courage and Liberty Ladd. A big Hollywood film company has funded an action blockbuster about the legendary superhero, although with an updated image. Commander Courage becomes an aggressive anti-terrorist played by Bruce Easley (Daran Norris) and his sidekick becomes sexed-up eye candy Papaya Smith (Donna D'Errico). Traditionalist Swan fights to save the dignity of his beloved hero. His documentary crew consists of studio executive Taylor Donohue (Roger Rose) and intoxicated cameraman Ricky (Jess Harnell). A consultant on the project is Leo Matuzik (Billy West), the grandson of the original character creator. Kevin Smith, Hugh Hefner, Bruce Campbell, and Stan Lee appear as themselves. Legendary actors Sid Caesar and Jonathan Winters play a pair of old army buddies who reminisce about the good old days. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Roger Rose - Taylor Donohue; Jess Harnell - Ricky; Donna D'Errico - Papaya Smith; Billy West - Leo Matuzik; Tom Kenny - Derek Sprang; Daran Norris - Bruce Easley; Lori Alan - Anita Levine
Credit
Mark Teague - Art Director, Mark Hamill - Director, Matt Mariska - Editor, Es Josephs - Editor, Lawrence Hutchins - Editor, Peter Jaysen - Executive Producer, Rich Tackenberg - Executive Producer, Kathy Weiss - Line Producer, Jason Cooley - Cinematographer, Mark Hamill - Producer, Roger Rose - Producer, Jess Harnell - Producer, Billy West - Producer, Scott Zakarin - Producer, Eric Mittleman - Producer
The story revolves around comic book fan Don Swan and his battle, at least in his mind, against a fictional film studio that's about to announce a film based on his favorite superhero, Commander Courage.
Most of the movie was filmed at the San Diego Comic-Con. All the interviews with attendees while Hamill remained in-character were unscripted, for a realistic look.
