We Can Be Heroes Review: An Over-The-Top & Action-Packed Film

We Can Be Heroes is the follow up film to Sharkboy and Lavagirl — and one that the whole family will love! 

We Can be Heroes is a movie that is not just for kids, it is fun for the whole family. Get ready to laugh, cheer on your favorite kids, and even be a little bit surprised as you watch. Sure, this is a kids’ movie so parts of it are predictable, but there were even a few twists that took me by surprise. 

When the superheroes of the world are taken captive, it is up to their children to save them, and the world, from an alien takeover. What happens next is a whole lot of action, including a really fun training montage. If you know me, you know I love superhero movies, so it was fun to see a lot of different superhero abilities in the kids of this film. 

Do You Have To See Sharkboy & Lavagirl First?

We Can Be Heroes is a follow up to Sharkboy and Lavagirl, but trust me when I say you can watch this one without seeing the prequel. My husband and I have never seen it, but we both really enjoyed this movie. Our daughters on the other hand? They have seen it multiple times and thought it was a great sequel.

I will mention that it is a little weird that Sharkboy never speaks. This is likely because the actor was replaced, it is not longer Taylor Lautner. I understand covering his face with a mask the whole time, but having him not say even a word just felt…off. Especially after I learned that he DOES talk in the first movie.

Important Life Lessons

As a parent, I am a big fan of the lessons that are taught in We Can Be Heroes. Take it all from the name, we can be heroes — anyone can be a hero. Missy is the main character and she herself has no powers, but that doesn’t make her useless. Leadership can be the most important superpower of all. Especially when used to create a team that is willing to put their differences aside and work together.

After watching this movie my daughters have been working to hone their superpowers, that they decided they now have. But they aren’t pretending to fly, or stretch, or even mess with time — they are practicing working together to solve problem. Talk about a happy mom!

But How Are The Kid Actors?

There are some pretty big names in We Can Be Heroes when it comes to the adult actors. Pedro Pascal, Christian Slater, and Chris McDonald, just to name a few. However, they are not the stars of this film, the kids are. 

And let’s be honest here, kid actors are not always the best. They often go overboard in their acting, and it can seem forced or over the top, but that isn’t the case with these kids. They all do a great job with their characters, separately, but especially together. It is obvious that they bonded on set and you can see their chemistry on the screen.

Each and every one of them does a great job, but I was particularly impressed with Vivien Lyra Blair, who plays Sharkboy and Lavagirl’s daughter Guppy. She is the youngest of the bunch, but arguably one of the most powerful. There are many moments where she provides some great comic relief, so kudos to her for always hitting her mark!

Overall Thoughts

Is this movie predictable? Yes, for the most part. Is it over the top and cheesy? Yes, it is a Robert Rodriguez film after all. But is it a whole lot of fun that will have every member of the family laughing and guessing what will happen next? Absolutely.

While I would have loved more of the adults in the movie — especially Pedro Pascal — I appreciate how they focused on the children of the heroes, and everything they had to overcome. This action-packed movie teaches kids, and adults, positive lessons like embracing who you are, working together as a team, and of course, anyone can be hero – no matter their size! 

If you are wondering what triggers there might be for your little ones, check out this
We Can Be Heroes Parent Guide!

About We Can Be Heroes

When alien invaders kidnap Earth’s superheroes, their kids are whisked away to a government safe house. But whip-smart tween Missy Moreno (Yaya Gosselin) will stop at nothing to rescue her superhero dad, Marcus Moreno (Pedro Pascal).

Missy teams up with the rest of the superkids to escape their mysterious government babysitter, Ms. Granada (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). If they’re going to save their parents, they’ll have to work together by using their individual powers — from elasticity to time control to predicting the future — and form an out-of-this-world team.

Full of action and heart, WE CAN BE HEROES is directed by Robert Rodriguez (SPY KIDS, THE ADVENTURES OF SHARKBOY AND LAVAGIRL) and also stars Boyd Holbrook, Christian Slater, Chris McDonald, and Adriana Barraza.

Watch We Can Be Heroes on Netflix today!

Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for almost ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association, Hollywood Critics Association, and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.

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