History Main / TheSpecials

[[redirect:Film/TheSpecials]]

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/specials_393.jpg
[[caption-width:281:We're there for the oddball, the rebel, the outcast, the geek!]]
->'''Title Card:''' This is the story of the Specials...
->'''Title Card:''' ...The 6th or 7th greatest superhero team in the world.
->'''Title Card:''' They have spent many a day fighting natural disasters and battling supervillains.
->'''Title Card:''' This is not one of those days.

A (2000) comedy film about the sixth (or seventh) greatest superhero team in the world. The movie follows the events of several days during which no major world-shaking events occur, instead focusing on the various team members' lives. During the course of the film a new member joins the team, a line of toys based on the Specials is unveiled, and long-festering conflicts within the team come to a head.

No relation to [[Music/TheSpecials the band]] or the third ''{{Uglies}}'' book.
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!!This film contains examples of:
* AchillesHeel: Ms. Indestructible's [[EyeScream eyes]].
* AdaptationDecay: The line of action figures in the movie.
* AllLesbiansWantKids: Power Chick's mothering of Alien Orphan.
* {{All Love Is Unrequited}}: Minute Man says this is one of the team's rules [[spoiler: He's proved wrong.]]
* [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fangirl]]: Nightbird was a huge fan of the team before she joined.
* {{Atlas Pose}}: U.S. Bill in the "Who Are the Specials?" mockumentary
* BadassNormal: Mr. Smart's super power is...being ''really'' smart.
* {{Bad Powers Bad People}}: Averted by Deadly Girl, who uses her creepy powers for good; invoked ''and'' averted by Amok, who is a former villain with suitably villainous powers, but is now a hero.
* BreakTheCutie: Nearly happens to [[spoiler: Nightbird]], but is mostly averted.
* {{Bold Inflation}}: The Strobe
* BerserkButton: Minute Man is somewhat sensitive to the proper pronunciation of his codename.
** Likewise, please don't try to remove US Bill's mask. He's rather sensitive about keeping his identity secret.
* ButchLesbian: Power Chick. Somehow Amok manages to miss this until she has to tell him outright.
* {{The Cape}}: The Strobe thinks he is.
* ChekhovsGun: Ms. Indestructible's eyes.
* {{Civvie Spandex}}/{{Coat Hat Mask}}: Most of the Specials wear costumes made from the kinds of items you can find in a costume or fabric store.
* {{Chest Insignia}}: The Strobe, U.S. Bill, The Weevil
* {{Coconut Superpowers}}: The characters' powers are more discussed than demonstrated, although the VFormationTeamShot at the very end (see the photo above) shows some of them in use.
* {{Code Name}}: Played straight.
* ConspicuousCGI: Power Chick during the VFormationTeamShot.
* {{Comes Great Responsibility}}: The Strobe lectures on this at the first meeting.
* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon: "If I wanted to, I could cut your head off, and then do some intricate welding and slicing with your guts!"
* {{Day In The Life}}: Though not a completely routine day, there are no world saving heroics going on.
* DeadpanSnarker: Deadly Girl
* {{DeathBy Origin Story}}: Stretchie Boy's demise in "Who Are the Specials?" could be considered an example of this.
* {{Did You Just Have Sex}}: [[spoiler: Minute Man and Deadly Girl]]
* TheDitz: U.S. Bill
* {{Domino Mask}}: Nightbird, U.S. Bill, The Weevil
* DumbMuscle: U.S. Bill -- who is not just dumb, but clearly mentally disabled.
* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Completely and utterly averted with the Specials' headquarters, which is the suburban home of The Strobe and Ms. Indestructible.
* {{Evil Costume Switch}}: [[spoiler: The Weevil]]
* EvilIsSexy: Again, Deadly Girl.
* ExecutiveMeddling: The obvious cause of the... discrepancies between the Specials and their toy counterparts.
* {{Face Heel Turn}}: [[spoiler: The Weevil]]
* FridgeHorror: Nightbird's power: [[spoiler: she lays eggs, each of which supposedly contains a "trick" (i.e., knock-out gas or explosives). The horror comes in when you think about how this would work in a fight, and remember what part of the body eggs usually come...]]
* HandBlast: The Mighty Strobe has this. Amok has something similar, except their source is more random, due to a slight case of power incontinence, meaning they can sometimes come out his dick.
* HeelFaceTurn: Albeit offscreen and in the BackStory: Amok was a villain before joining the Specials.
* HeyItsThatGuy: At least half the cast, including JordanLadd, Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Paget Brewster, Kelly Coffield, Jamie Kennedy, Sean Gunn, JudyGreer, John Doe and Melissa Joan Hart.
* {{Hive Mind}}: Eight
* {{Informed Ability}}: We never see most of the team's powers, and even the TeamShot at the end suggests more than displays them.
* {{It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY}}: Minute Man needs to repeatedly point out that his codename is pronounced "MY-NEWT man", as in tiny, not "MIH-NITT man", as in sixty seconds.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Amok is a lewd, crude jerk, but in the end [[spoiler:he is one of the most vocal proponents of keeping the team together.]]
* JudyGreer: Deadly Girl.
* KubrickStare: Deadly Girl (natch)
* MerchandiseDriven: Spoofed and PlayedForLaughs at the launch party scene.
* {{Mockumentary}}: "Who Are the Specials?"
* {{Moe}}: Nightbird.
* NaiveNewcomer: Nightbird.
* NoodleIncident: The movie is full of these; the Pterodactyls, the anal slugs (it's a pretty good one), the Colossal Blister, Amok and the Scabies (not Scurvy) incident, and why Deadly Girl's action figure is not available in Vermont.
* {{Not Wearing Tights}}: Mr. Smart
* PerkyGoth: Mostly averted. Deadly Girl is only seen to be perky when she's insulting someone, or after her tryst with Minute Man.
* PokeThePoodle: Back in his days as a villain, Amok's big evil plan was to give people scabies (and not scurvy, as previously thought).
* PrecisionFStrike: "But in the meantime, get off my fucking lawn, whore."
* RaceLift: "He's a Special, [[UnfortunateImplications just for me]]!"
* TheReveal: After dancing around it for almost the entire movie, Nightbird's power is finally revealed minutes before the end of the movie.
* {{Secret Identity}}: Played straight by U.S. Bill to the point of parody, averted by all the other Specials.
* {{The Smart Guy}}: Mr. Smart, naturally.
* {{Smug Super}}: The "Great" Strobe
* {{Soaperizing}}
* {{Something Person}}: Deadly Girl, Minute Man, Power Chick, Zip Boy.
* {{Spandex Latex Or Leather}}: Averted -- the Specials' costumes are mostly mundane fabrics.
* SpontaneousChoreography: The dance on stage at the club.
* StrawFeminist: Sunshine Grrrll and arguably the other seven members of the Femme Five:
-->'''Sunlight Grrrll''': The Femme Five. I'm here to ask you to join.\\
'''Deadly Girl:''' Well, then you'd be the Femme Six.\\
'''Sunlight Grrrll:''' There are already eight of us. Traditional counting is an oppressive patriarchal tool.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: The closest thing in this movie is [[JudyGreer Deadly Girl]]'s costume. But [[HelloNurse ho]]-[[FetishFuel ly]] ''FUCK''!
* {{Super Hero}}
* {{Superhero Speciation}}: Played straight.
* TakeThat: [[spoiler:The audio commentary confirms that Weevil's be-nippled costume at the end is a swipe at ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''.]]
* ThirdPersonPerson: The Strobe on occasion.
* VFormationTeamShot: The final moments of the film.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: Alien Orphan's power.
* WelcomeEpisode: The beginning of the film is spent introducing Nightbird (and the audience) to the Specials. Subverted in that there isn't all that much to see which is really spectacular, and the tour is given by U.S. Bill, who is clearly mentally handicapped.
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway: Discussed by Nightbird and Minute Man.
* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: Subverted. The Specials' HQ is an ordinary suburban home with all that implies about its furnishings, and only acquires a wide-screen HD TV in the final minutes of the movie.
* {{You Are Number Six}}: Eight
* {{Your Cheating Heart}}: Ms. Indestructible cheats on her husband, The Strobe, with The Weevil.
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* {{It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY}}: Minute Man is particularly insistent on the proper pronunciation of his codename -- "my-NOOT", as in tiny, not "mih-nit", the unit of time.

* AscendedFanboy: Or rather, ascended fan''girl''. Nightbird was a huge fan of the team before she joined.

* TakeThat: [[spoiler:The audio commentary confirms that Weevil's be-nippled costume at the end is a swipe at ''BatmanAndRobin''.]]

* {{Death By Origin Story}}: Stretchie Boy's demise in "Who Are the Specials?" could be considered an example of this.

* RalphWiggum: U.S. Bill

* FetishFuelStationAttendant: Deadly Girl, once again.

* FridgeHorror: Nightbird's power: [[spoiler: she lays eggs, each of which supposedly contains a "trick" (.i.e knock-out gas or explosives). The horror comes in when you think about how this would work in a fight, and remember what part of the body eggs usually come...]]

* FridgeHorror: Nightbird's power: [[spoilers: she lays eggs, each of which supposedly contains a "trick" (.i.e knock-out gas or explosives). The horror comes in when you think about how this would work in a fight, and remember what part of the body eggs usually come...]]

* Fridge Horror: Nightbird's power: [[spoilers: she lays eggs, each of which supposedly contains a "trick" (.i.e knock-out gas or explosives). The horror comes in when you think about how this would work in a fight, and remember what part of the body eggs usually come...]]

* {{Coconut Superpowers}}: The characters' powers are more discussed than demonstrated, although the JusticeLeagueShot at the very end (see the photo above) shows some of them in use.

* ConspicuousCGI: Power Chick during the JusticeLeagueShot.

* JusticeLeagueShot: The final moments of the film.

No relation to [[Music/TheSpecials the band]].

* AchillesHeel: Ms. Indestructible's eyes.

* AdaptationDecay: The line of action figures.

* HeyItsThatGuy: At least half the cast, including Jordan Ladd, Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden Church, Paget Brewster, Kelly Coffield, Jamie Kennedy, Sean Gunn, JudyGreer, John Doe and Melissa Joan Hart.

A (2000) comedy film about the sixth (or seventh) greatest superhero team in the world. The movie follows the events of several days during which no major world-shaking events occur, instead focusing on the character's lives. During the course of the film a new member joins the team, a line of toys based on the Specials is unveiled, and long-festering conflicts within the team come to a head.

* HeelFaceTurn: Albeit offscreen: Amok was a villain before joining the Specials.

* {{It Is Pronounced Tro-PAY}}: Minute Man is particularly insistent on the proper pronunciation of his codename -- "mi-NOOT", as in tiny, not "mih-nit", the unit of time.

* {{Coconut Superpowers}}: The characters' powers are more discussed than demonstrated, although the JusticeLeagueShot at the very end shows most of them in use.

* WelcomeEpisode: Much of the first twenty minutes or so of the film is spent introducing Nightbird (and the audience) to the Specials. Subverted in that there isn't all that much to see which is really spectacular, and the tour is given by U.S. Bill, who is clearly mentally handicapped.

[[caption-width:281:We're there for the oddball, the rebel, the outcast, the geek!]]->'''Title Card:''' This is the story of the Specials...

->'''Title Card:''' This is the story of the Specials...

A (2000) comedy film about the sixth (or seventh) greatest superhero team in the world. The movie follows the event of a day in the group's life when no major world shaking events occur, instead focusing on the character's lives.

This show contains examples of:

* {{All Love Is Unrequited}} - Minute Man says this is one of the team's rules [[spoiler: He's proved wrong.]]
*AscendedFanboy-Or rather, ascended fan''girl''. Nightbird was a huge fan of the team before she joined.
* {{Atlas Pose}} - U.S. Bill in the "Who Are the Specials?" mockumentary
* {{Bad Powers Bad People}} - averted by Deadly Girl, who uses her creepy powers for good
* BreakTheCutie - Nearly happens to [[spoiler: Nightbird]], but is mostly averted.
* {{Bold Inflation}} - The Strobe
* {{The Cape}} - The Strobe thinks he is
* {{Civvie Spandex}}/{{Coat Hat Mask}} - most of the Specials wear costumes made from the kinds of items you can find in a costume or fabric store.
* {{Chest Insignia}} - The Strobe, U.S. Bill, The Weevil
* {{Coconut Superpowers}}- the characters powers are more discussed than demonstrated
* {{Code Name}} - played straight
* {{Comes Great Responsibility}} - The Strobe lectures on this at the first meeting
* CutHisHeartOutWithASpoon - "If I wanted to, I could cut your head off, and then do some intricate welding and slicing with your guts!"
* {{Day In The Life}} - though not a completely routine day, there are no world saving heroics going on.
* DeadpanSnarker - Deadly Girl
* {{Death By Origin Story}} - Stretchie Boy's demise in "Who Are the Specials?" could be considered an example of this.
* {{Did You Just Have Sex}} - [[spoiler: Minute Man and Deadly Girl]]
* {{Domino Mask}} - Nightbird, U.S. Bill, The Weevil
* DumbMuscle: U.S. Bill
* {{Evil Costume Switch}} - [[spoiler: The Weevil]]
* EvilIsSexy - Again, Deadly Girl.
* {{Face Heel Turn}} - [[spoiler: The Weevil]]
* FetishFuelStationAttendant - Deadly Girl, once again.
* HeelFaceTurn - Albeit offscreen: Amok was a villain before joining the Specials.
* {{Hive Mind}} - Eight
* {{Informed Ability}} - we never see most of the team's powers
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold - Amok is a lewd, crude jerk, but in the end [[spoiler:he is one of the most vocal proponents of keeping the team together.]]
* KubrickStare - Deadly Girl(natch)
* NoodleIncident - The movie is full of these; the Pterodactyls, the anal slugs(it's a pretty good one), the Colossal Blister, Amok and the Scabies(not Scurvy) incident, and why Deadly Girl's action figure is not available in Vermont.
* {{Not Wearing Tights}} - Mr. Smart
* PerkyGoth - Mostly averted. Deadly Girl is only seen to be perky when she's insulting someone, or after her tryst with Minute Man.
* PokeThePoodle - Back in his days as a villain, Amok's big evil plan was to give people scabies(and not scurvy, as previously thought).
* PrecisionFStrike - "But in the meantime, get off my fucking lawn, whore."
* RalphWiggum - U.S. Bill
* {{Secret Identity}} - played straight by U.S. Bill, averted by all the other Specials
* {{The Smart Guy}} - Mr. Smart, naturally.
* {{Smug Super}} - The "Great" Strobe

* {{Something Person}} - Deadly Girl, Minute Man, Power Chick, Zip Boy
* {{Spandex Latex Or Leather}} - averted, the Specials costumes are mostly mundane fabrics.
* {{Stripperiffic}} - The closest thing in this movie is [[JudyGreer Deadly Girl]]'s costume. But [[HelloNurse ho]]-[[FetishFuel ly]] ''FUCK''!

* {{Superhero Speciation}} - played straight
* TakeThat - [[spoiler: The audio commentary confirms that Weevil's be-nippled costume at the end is a swipe at ''BatmanAndRobin''.]]
* WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway - Discussed by Nightbird and Minute Man.
* {{You Are Number Six}} - Eight
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