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Through the years, Marvel movies have taught us that superheroes don’t always start out as the strongest, most honorable people. They might be billionaire arms manufacturers, former Russian spies, or wise-cracking ex-cons. And in the animated adventure Heroes of the Golden Mask, the unlikely hero is a homeless kid with a talent for pickpocketing.
Heroes of the Golden Mask begins when the powerful Bearer of the Golden Mask is killed in battle—and his daughter, Li (voiced by Natasha Liu Bordizzo), is sent to find a great warrior to take his place. She doesn’t expect to find Charlie (Kiefer O’Reilly), a homeless teenager who steals on the streets to survive. But, reluctantly, Li asks Charlie to join her and the other three heroes in protecting the ancient Chinese city of Sanxingdui—and he only accepts after seeing the priceless golden masks that give the heroes their powers.
As Charlie and the other heroes find themselves facing off against evil Kunyi (Ron Perlman) and his army, they struggle to overcome their own fears as well as their trust issues. These aren’t just the typical heroic characters. Not only do they come from a variety of backgrounds (including Patton Oswalt’s Aesop, who came from the lost city of Atlantis), but they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. They’re definitely an unlikely group of heroic misfits, but they’ll eventually grow on audiences as they learn to work together.
Though the film may not live up to the standards of the bigger animation houses, the animation generally works. It’s far from breathtaking, but it doesn’t have any glaring flaws that distract from the action and adventure. The same goes for the film’s story about these heroes who come together to form their own dysfunctional little family. The idea of taking a street smart American orphan and throwing him into a mix of Chinese tradition and superhero action makes for a fun-filled film. It may not be a remarkable film, but it’s serviceable—a creative animated adventure that will keep kids entertained and won’t leave their parents wishing they’d fought for a different pick for family movie night.
While it’s not destined to be a new family favorite, Heroes of the Golden Mask still offers some entertaining twists on the usual superhero adventure. If you’re looking for something to keep the kids occupied for a little while on a hectic summer day, this will do the trick.
Bring these heroes into your home when Heroes of the Golden Mask arrives on demand on June 9, 2023.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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