We Can Be Heroes (2020 film)
A superhero sequel released on Netflix in 2020.
We Can Be Heroes is a 2020 American superhero film written and directed by Robert Rodriguez, who also served as cinematographer and editor. It follows the 2005 film *The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl*. The cast includes YaYa Gosselin, Lyon Daniels, Andy Walken, and Hala Finley. Netflix released it on December 25, 2020, and critics gave it mixed reviews.
The story begins with Missy Moreno at home with her father, Marcus, when they are called to help heroes. Missy joins other Heroics children there: Wheels (super-speed, with heavy muscles from his speed), Noodles (stretchy body), Ojo (communicates through drawings but later speaks), A-Capella (telekinetic singing), Slo-Mo (always in slow motion from a time warp), Face Maker (morphs his face), twins Rewind and Fast Forward (time alteration), Wild Card (immense but uncontrolled powers), and Guppy (shark strength and water shaping). The kids watch on TV as the Heroics are captured by aliens. Missy realizes Ojo’s drawings predict the future. When a drawing shows aliens breaking into a vault, the kids plan an escape. Face Maker tricks guards, Guppy subdues them, but a guard triggers a lockdown. Rewind sends them back in time, Wheels stops the guard, and Noodles steals badges. Mrs. Graneda seals doors, but A-Capella creates a staircase to the roof. Noodles secures a vehicle, and they escape, though A-Capella’s voice makes the train wobble. They land at Missy’s grandmother Anita Moreno’s home, a Heroics trainer who helps them master their powers. Aliens arrive, Grandma sends the kids through a tunnel to an empty field before being captured. The kids find an empty alien craft and reach the Mother ship. In a room with a purple pyramid, they see the president and Ms. Graneda speaking—they are alien spies preparing Earth for a takeover. The kids are jailed. Guppy makes a key replica from tears and opens the door. A fight ensues; Wild Card is caught for questioning while the others seek the pyramid. Wheels hacks the motherboard, but Ojo reveals she can speak and is the Supreme Commander of the aliens. Missy communicates with Wild Card in the control room; Face Maker has switched places with him. Graneda goes after Wild Card, but the protective shield around the motherboard is deactivated. The kids hold off aliens, Wheels and Noodles swap the motherboard with a new one, deactivating the alien rocket and foiling the
- Director
- Robert Rodriguez
- Release Date
- December 25, 2020
- Distributor
- Netflix
- Sequel To
- The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (2005)
- Starring
- YaYa Gosselin, Lyon Daniels, Andy Walken, Hala Finley
- Production Company
- Troublemaker Studios
Quick Facts
- Director
- Robert Rodriguez
- Producer
- Racer Rodriguez / Robert Rodriguez
- Starring
- YaYa Gosselin / Lyon Daniels / Andy Walken / Hala Finley / Lotus Blossom / Dylan Henry Lau / Andrew Diaz / Isaiah Russell-Bailey / Akira Akbar / Nathan Blair / Vivien Lyra Blair / Priyanka Chopra
- Music
- Rebel Rodriguez
- Studio
- Double R Productions
- Distributor
- Netflix
- Released
- 2020 · 12 · 25 · United States
- Runtime
- 100 minutes
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The film follows Missy Moreno, who is at home with her father Marcus when they are called to rescue heroes. Missy joins other children of the Heroics, including Wheels (whose power is super-speed, with heavy muscles resulting from his speed), Noodles, Ojo (who communicates through drawings but later speaks and is not mute), A-Capella, Slo-Mo, Face Maker, Rewind, Fast Forward, Wild Card, and Guppy. The children watch the Heroics battle aliens on television and are captured. Missy realizes Ojo's drawings predict the future, leading the group to escape from a vault using their powers. They seek help from Missy's grandmother, Anita Moreno, a former Heroics trainer, who helps them master their abilities before being captured by aliens. The children infiltrate the alien mothership and discover that the president and Ms. Graneda are alien spies planning a takeover. After a fight, Ojo reveals she is the Supreme Commander of the aliens.
Reader's Guide
We Can Be Heroes is significant as a direct sequel to Robert Rodriguez's 2005 film The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, expanding the universe with a new generation of young heroes. The film was a major success on Netflix, becoming the most-watched film on the platform in 2021, with 53 million households viewing it in its first four weeks. Despite mixed critical reviews, it was praised for its imaginative, kid-oriented approach and was noted as the ultimate Troublemaker movie by critics. The film's release was moved forward from January 1, 2021, to December 25, 2020. Its popularity led Netflix to plan a sequel, with Rodriguez confirmed to return as director and principal photography scheduled for 2022.
Did You Know?
- The film was written, directed, and produced by Robert Rodriguez, who also served as cinematographer and editor.
- Visual effects and animation were provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Weta Digital.
- The film was the most-watched title on Netflix in 2021.
- A sequel was announced by Netflix in January 2021, with Rodriguez returning as director.
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