Sunday, December 22, 2024

LEGO DC SUPER HERO GIRLS:SUPER-VILLAIN HIGH (2018)


 




PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *comedy*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *psychological*


The second and last of the LEGO versions of this franchise utilizes a lot more of the secondary characters than the other one, such as the Lego-ized versions of Katana, Bumblebee, Beast Boy and the female Green Lantern, Jessica Something. However, it sticks with just one villain, Lena Luthor, who's well-crafted as a third-rate villain trying to up her reputation. (Lena does have one henchperson from a previous telefilm, Lashina of the Female Furies, but because she functions only as a henchperson, she doesn't overburden HIGH with too many divergent antagonists.

I've mentioned in previous reviews that the franchise takes place in its own continuity, where the students at the hero-forging institution include all sorts of de-aged DC heroes and villains-- the implication being that the villains attempted to be heroes before going down the wrong path as adults. Lena Luthor, resenting her previous defeats by the Hero High students, decides to infiltrate the school and corrupt five "future villains" to her way of thinking. As it happens, Lena's timing is spot on, for five students-- Catwoman, Cheetah, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and Killer Frost-- get irritated with Supergirl, Batgirl, Wonder Woman and the "Jessica Cruz" version of Green Lantern. While Principal Waller is on vacation, Lena impersonates her and lures the disaffected students to another school, "Uber High."

The three main heroes decide they want to investigate Uber, and they send Green Jessica to spy on the new high school. Eventually the heroines learn Lena's dastardly (and comparatively original) scheme: to break into the Rock of Eternity (where dwells the wizard formerly known as Shazam) and steal seven magical gems. However, the removal of the gems sets loose the demons known as the Seven Deadly Sins, who have the power to influence mortals with negative emotions. On the positive side, the five proto-villain girls begin to miss their good times at Super Hero High. and eventually they're all brought back into the fold. Though the heroes foil Lena's plot to use the magic gems for (I think) world dominion, she escapes justice and plots to found her universe's version of the Legion of Doom.

Both the jokes and the fights here are on a par with the best Lego-flicks for other DC characters, making this the best of the comedy versions of the franchise. 



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