Secret Headquarters is a fun family friendly superhero flick that is packed with action, but also teaches lessons of working together.
Imagine what it would be like if your father was the greatest superhero alive and you didn’t even know about it? That is the premise of Secret Headquarters which stars Owen Wilson and Walker Scobell. If you think it sounds like a lot of fun, well you are right. Aimed at families, this movies delivers fun for all ages in the form of action, humor, and life lessons.
Walker Scobell comes fresh off of The Adam Project and teams up with another long working comedic actor, this time Owen Wilson. While they aren’t on screen together much, when they are they have great chemistry. Scobell proved that he has some serious acting chops in The Adam Project as he gave Ryan Reynolds a run for his money, and he just solidified that he is a force to be reckoned with and someone to keep an eye on with Secret Headquarters.
He is a great choice for the lead in this movie, easily becoming likable and relatable from the start. It is impossible not to root for him as he takes on the bad guys. Scobell perfectly delivers the sassy remarks with comedic timing that shows he is a professional. But not only that, he can keep up with seasoned actors, and becomes the standout whenever he is on the screen.
Owen Wilson plays his father, who is also the superhero known as The Guard, but he isn’t in the movie much. When he is, he is fantastic, however this is a movie about the kids and their relationships with each other. They must work together, despite everything that is going on between them (and trust us there is some low-key drama). This is a great lesson for younger viewers to learn, and a fun way to teach it.
The kids all work really well together in the film and it is clear they have experience. None of them are new to the industry, which is what works really well in this movie. Actors can make or break a film and luckily, all of the talent shines in Secret Headquarters.
Due to the nature of the film there is a lot of action. The movie takes place mostly in The Guard’s secret lair (or headquarters — get it?) which is filled with gadgets that do just about anything. From a magnetic wand to jetpacks, it pretty much has anything you can think of. Seeing these items in action during the big battle sequences is extremely cool, and probably the most entertaining part of the movie.
Michael Peña plays the villain of the movie, Argon, alongside Jesse Williams (a military soldier who is trying to prove that he isn’t crazy). The two make quite the pair and although they aren’t as dastardly as they could be, they do push the envelope for a family friendly movie at times which is much appreciated for the adults watching.
The issues in this film stem from just that however, that it is a family friendly film. This is nice because it is something that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, and makes a great popcorn movie for the whole family, but it drags a bit and lacks some real stakes. You go into a movie like this knowing that none of the kids are going to die, and they are likely going to save the day. That is just the nature of a family movie.
Still, there is a whole lot of comedy which is mostly hit (some are a miss for older audiences though) and some really fun action. The kids make this movie something special because it is clear they put their all into it.
Secret Headquarters is a cute movie that is perfect for a family movie night. There are cool gadgets, superhero vs. villain battles, and even some great life lessons about teamwork and working together — even when you don’t want to. The ending leaves it open for a sequel, and we would certainly curl up on the couch with the family to watch a Secret Headquarters 2, so bring it on!
Rating: 3 out of 5
NEXT: The Adam Project Review: A Damn Near Perfect Movie
About Secret Headquarters
While hanging out after school, Charlie and his friends discover the headquarters of the world’s most powerful superhero hidden beneath his home. When villains attack, they must team up to defend the headquarters and save the world.
Secret Headquarters premieres Friday, August 12, 2022 exclusively on Paramount+.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.