WE CAN BE HEROES

We Can Be Heroes has some funny and exciting moments. The superhero children escape an alien invasion, use their powers, and attempt to rescue their captured parents. Robert Rodriguez’s family-adventure background is evident in the concept.

But the presentation is mediocre, with clunky execution and some cheap-looking special effects. More seriously, the movie’s ending promotes a Romantic, non-Christian idea that children and teenagers possess enough wisdom and experience to take over from their parents and rule society. Its references to evolution make that message even more troubling.

Because the film carries a −2 Family Content rating and offers only modest entertainment value, you should skip it rather than make it a family viewing choice.

During an alien invasion, America’s superheroes are defeated and captured. Their children are placed in a government facility for safety, but the children soon escape when the aliens attack.

Led by Missy, a girl without superpowers but with natural leadership ability, the children seek help from their grandmother. After beginning training, they take control of an alien spaceship and head toward the alien mother ship, hoping to rescue their parents and save the world.

Two stars means this is a mediocre family adventure with occasional entertainment value. The movie has some funny, exciting moments, and the superhero premise gives the children opportunities to use their powers in action sequences.

Still, the film is too clunky compared with Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids movies and his earlier superhero film about Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Some of the special effects look cheap, and the obnoxious twist ending further mars the presentation.

The movie presents a strong Romantic, politically correct worldview. Its central message is that pre-teenage children have the cognitive ability, wisdom, and experience to take over from their parents and rule society. It also argues that children are more “evolved” than their parents.

That message conflicts with the biblical understanding that children are still growing in wisdom and should receive instruction from their parents. The movie does include some moral elements and light Pro-American, patriotic themes about people from diverse backgrounds getting along and working together, echoing the American motto E Pluribus Unum, “Out of Many, One.” Those elements slightly mitigate its central message, but they do not remove the problem.

The film’s longing for a better society is understandable, but Scripture directs children toward receiving parental wisdom, not replacing it: “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8).

We Can Be Heroes has a promising family-adventure setup but delivers clunky filmmaking and a troubling message about children ruling adults. For your family, the wiser choice is SKIP IT. For better options, see.