The Meteor Man (film)

The Meteor Man is a 1993 American superhero comedy film written, directed, co-produced, and starring Robert Townsend. It is among the earliest superhero films with an African American lead. Townsend plays Jefferson Reed, a mild-mannered teacher in Washington, D.C., whose neighborhood is terrorized by the Golden Lords street gang. After rescuing a woman from the gang, Reed hides in a dumpster and is struck by a glowing green meteorite, which crushes his spine and burns him. He wakes in the hospital fully healed and discovers the meteorite gave him superpowers including flight, x-ray and laser vision, superhuman strength, speed, hearing, invulnerability, healing, telekinesis, the ability to absorb a book’s content by touch, super breath, and telepathy with dogs. His parents convince him to use his powers for good, and his mother designs a costume. As the Meteor Man, he shuts down crack houses, stops robberies, and brokers peace between police and rival gangs. The Golden Lords learn his secret identity and that his powers are fading. After a fight leaves him powerless, community members, including a neighbor who throws a record to disarm the gang leader, and a vagrant named Marvin who uses the meteor fragment to strip the gang’s guns, rally against the Golden Lords. Jeff and the gang leader both grab the meteor, gaining powers, and fight. Jeff ultimately drains the leader’s powers and scares off the gang. Marvin uses the last of the meteor’s energy to heal Jeff’s injured dog. When a drug lord confronts Meteor Man, rival gangs protect him, and the police arrest the drug lord. The film was shot in Baltimore, Maryland, though set in Washington, D.C. The soundtrack includes songs by Shanice, Hi-Five, Ahmad, and Michael Jackson’s “Can’t Let Her Get Away,” which appeared in the film but not on the soundtrack album. Reception was mixed: Rotten Tomatoes gives it 25% from 16 reviews. Critics compared it to a clunky sitcom, found its mix of heroics and spoofing contradictory, or called it dull. Roger Ebert gave it 2.5 stars, noting it had big laughs and genuine moments but lacked a coherent storyline. The film later gained a cult following.