WE CAN BE HEROES: Rodriguez Longing for His Spy Kids Days

If anyone still believes Robert Rodriguez has some artistic or cultural obligation to make films that astonish with their form and depth, they’re mistaken. Rodriguez is a filmmaker who has nothing left to prove. He’s earned the right to play with cinema now — to make kids’ films, a genre he’s already quite experienced in. The real question is whether it made sense to create something so stylistically close to Spy Kids. Would it not have been worth spending a bit more time on the script, crafting something fresher, and delivering a bit more of that distinctive Rodriguez flair — age-appropriate, of course? Sometimes, it really is worth the effort.

I can’t shake the feeling that adult viewers still far too often condescend to children’s films, casually dismissing them with the tired insult: “It’s just a kids’ movie.” As if that’s something shameful — as if making movies for children were somehow a personal or artistic failure. It would be better to say, “This film is poorly written,” than to equate immaturity or simplicity with childhood. Adulthood is overrated — not some final evolution of the human spirit. That’s why I’m genuinely glad Rodriguez remains immune to this kind of snobbery and continues doing his thing within the family genre. Still, the question lingers: could he have done it better?

He could have — if only he had left Spy Kids behind. Instead, he leaned into a creative shortcut, recycling the same playful tone and basic formula: kids stepping in to save the day when adults fail to do so. He added a superhero twist, yes, but the structure remained familiar. That said, We Can Be Heroes still hits the right target audience — kids aged 5 to 12 — and importantly, appeals to both boys and girls. I appreciate that Rodriguez understood this, which is why he made the main character a girl: Missy Moreno (YaYa Gosselin), daughter of the retired superhero Marcus (Pedro Pascal). It’s a smart choice, especially for young boys, who need to grow up knowing that women are just as much the heroes in action and fantasy as men — genres historically dominated by male leads.

The film also deserves praise for its positive, even educational, message — not something you’d necessarily expect from the man behind From Dusk Till Dawn. But Rodriguez is a father himself, and he clearly understands the kind of values modern cinema should be passing on. The young superheroes — the children of the so-called Heroics — are diverse in both race and background, helping to introduce young audiences (especially in more culturally homogenous parts of the world) to the concept of difference and inclusion.

The story, while simple, emphasizes cooperation, care for the weaker members of the group, respect for nature, and even tidiness. In terms of encouraging pro-social behavior in children, the film delivers — with zero violence to worry about. There are fight scenes, of course, but they’re playful and bloodless. One thing is certain: Rodriguez made this movie with deep respect for kids.

I had the pleasure of watching We Can Be Heroes with my daughter. It was a fantastic introduction to the superhero genre — although by now, we’re already deep into it. Still, for parents wondering how to ease their kids into a world of capes and powers — from Superman to the Avengers — Rodriguez’s film is a great starting point.

Just be aware: the plot is built more like a narrative foundation than a complete tale. It’s best used as a jumping-off point for discussion and imagination. Watching it together and talking about each of the quirky superheroes — especially in comparison to their much more competent children — can be a lot of fun. The powers are also presented with a clever sense of humor, like Macaroni’s elastic arms or Guppy’s control over water creatures.

As for the adults in the room — it helps to squint a little (figuratively speaking). At just over 90 minutes, the film doesn’t have enough time to fully explore its premise: the fall of the Heroics and their replacement by the next generation. This is where the technical cracks begin to show.

The story itself seems coherent — at least on paper — but its cinematic execution feels rushed, with missing beats and too-quick transitions. The pacing could have been less breathless, especially in the second half once the action moves to a spaceship. Even the way the Heroics are captured — supposedly superpowered adults, brought down in seconds by alien tentacles — feels unintentionally silly.

Coming back to my earlier point: for a director known for his originality, Rodriguez definitely took the easy road here by clinging so tightly to the Spy Kids aesthetic. As an adult viewer, I found myself disappointed — especially having recently rewatched films like Rise of the Guardians and Detective Pikachu. The former, aimed at a similarly young demographic, delivers a surprising dose of metaphysical depth. The latter nails action and offers more mature dialogue. But in the end, We Can Be Heroes isn’t made for me. What matters most is that kids enjoy it — and mine certainly did.