Special (2006)

A wide array of Hollywood films have dealt with mental illness, and many of them have been received vast accolades for their efforts. While these films can often uplift and inspire, they also tend to be filled with an unnecessary melodrama which makes the struggles of such individuals seem trite. This is not the case with Special, a refreshing indie film which deftly mixes elements of the dramatic and the superheroic.

Les Franken (Michael Rapaport), a lonely meter maid, is the type of guy who stands in front of the microwave and watches his food cook. His day-to-day life filled with tedium, he reads comic books and dreams of one day being special. When he reads about the clinical trial of a new drug which removes self-doubt, he jumps at the chance to participate. In fact, he’s so eager to get started that he takes the first pill right in the doctor’s office.

Soon, Les comes to believe that he’s developing superpowers. It starts out as levitation, but quickly grows to include others. Now filled with a purpose, he stitches together a costume and takes to the streets to fight crime, becoming known on the news as “The Mad Tackler” due to his habit of tackling would-be criminals to the ground.

While Les is thrilled with his newfound powers, those around him are less enthusiastic. You see, it quickly becomes evident that these gifts are all in Les’s mind, and his body is simply having a severe reaction to the experimental drug. But as the movie goes on, the audience is left to wonder whether or not Les isn’t really becoming what he’s longed for all his life.

Michael Rapaport has always had a certain hangdog quality, and this works perfectly for the character of Les. It’s his finest performance, and he’s careful to never play the part for laughs. Les is a normal man who thinks he’s a superhero, and Rapaport manages to keep the film grounded at all times by resisting the temptation to chew the scenery. He also seems genuinely enthusiastic about being a superhero, something missing from many films which focus exclusively on the subject.

While you’ll no doubt cheer him on, it’s also hard not to fear for those around him. Les is lovable, but he’s also unpredictably violent, adding yet another layer to this already fascinating character. It’s this manner of portrayal which I believe makes Special a more accurate look at mental illness than many Hollywood films.

Whether he’s meeting his double from the future or speaking telepathically to his doctor, Les accepts everything he experiences as reality. While we know otherwise, it’s still fascinating to watch how intricately his delusions can manifest. When the Exiler brothers–who own the company which produces Les’s pills–show up to convince him to stop taking the product, Les believes the two are arch-villains bent on global domination.

Special has a sharp script peppered with clever dialogue, and the overall product is equal parts comedic romp and schizophrenic nightmare. The film’s ending doesn’t ruin what’s come before, and it manages to leave us with a message of both hope and ambiguity. Highly original and fantastical, Special is a one-of-a-kind film which deserves your attention.