Secret Headquarters is a new family superhero film coming to Paramount+ on August 12, 2022. Wondering if Secret Headquarters is kid-friendly? I’m breaking down all of the thematic elements, including its PG rating, in my Secret Headquarters Parents Guide and Movie Review. Here’s what parents need to know to help YOU decide if it’s appropriate for kids. As always, no spoilers!
SECRET HEADQUARTERS Parents Guide + Movie Review
I don’t know about you, but I love myself a good family superhero movie. Add in an all-star cast, and I’m completely sold. While Secret Headquarters doesn’t deliver an entirely new storyline, it’s still a thrilling ride nonetheless.
Secret Headquarters stars Walker Scobell (The Adam Project), as Charlie Kincaid. More than anything, Charlie wishes for a relationship with his estranged father (Owen Wilson). Wilson is never around, especially for all the big moments in Charlie’s life, and he perpetually cancels seeing him at the last minute. What Charlie doesn’t realize is his father is the most powerful superhero in the world known as The Guard.
In a turn of events, Charlie and his friends uncover his father’s biggest secret when they unintentionally discover his hidden headquarters beneath his house!
The Guard’s secret headquarters is very reminiscent of Epcot’s Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind queue. If you’ve ever experienced the attraction, you will definitely notice the similarities. Another Marvel connection is The Guard’s suit, having a strong resemblance to Iron Man’s.
Inside the headquarters are numerous high-tech gadgets. The kids obviously think this is beyond awesome and help themselves to try out these “toys.” Before they realize what they’ve done, they’ve led some very dangerous people to their home.
Charlie and his friends team up to protect “the source,” in hopes of saving the world — and maybe, Charlie can save his relationship with his dad.
All-Star Cast
There are some big names in Secret Headquarters. Owen Wilson is joined along with Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) and Michael Pena (Ant-Man). While the three of these characters deliver lots-of-laughs, it’s Walker Scobell’s performance that is the real standout.
It should also be mentioned that the supporting cast as Charlie’s friends are such a delight. They’re all very talented actors, and I especially appreciated the diversity shown within the entire cast.
Is Secret Headquarters Kid-Friendly? Here’s Your Parents Guide:
With kids being the main focus of Secret Headquarters, you would immediately think this movie is for all ages. However, there are a few things parents might want to know before watching Secret Headquarters with their children.
Secret Headquarters has an MPAA rating of PG for violence, action, language, and some rude humor. It has a running time of 1 hour 29 minutes, really the sweet spot to keep kids engaged. With that being said, there’s a lot to mention about that PG rating. Let’s break down the thematic elements and take a closer look.
Violence
Secret Headquarters is a Sci-Fi adventure film. It’s a superhero movie. Going into it, you should know there’s going to be a great amount of action, which in turn, sometimes translates to violence. There are many scenes where characters are in moments of peril. You can expect to see explosions, multiple usage of weapons, including guns and children being held at gunpoint. There are also fighting scenes with punches, kicks, and hand-to-hand combat.
Language
Honestly, for a PG rated film I was surprised by the amount of language in Secret Headquarters. You can expect to hear words and phrases like: crappy, “what the hell?,” freak, idiots, Hell, p!ss, damn, stupid, “holy crap,” and damn. Yikes.
Mature Content
Charlie’s father is never around, and his parents are divorced. To be honest, he doesn’t really know his son. Children with absent parents might find this upsetting. However, it also might help them to relate to Charlie’s character and not feel so alone.
There is quite a bit of underage driving in Secret Headquarters, as well as lying to parents, and cheating on tests. Oh, and one person loses his pants. While these are all concerning themes, they can be used as teachable moments to discuss with your kids.
Age Recommendation
Aside for the language, I agree with the PG rating of Secret Headquarters. However, I feel they pushed it a bit too far with the amount of language utilized. I think it’s only put there for the adults, and in a “family film,” it would be better left out. I watched Secret Headquarters with my 8 year old son and he really enjoyed it. He did point out the inappropriate language to me, though. He made sure I wasn’t missing any of it when I was writing my notes throughout the film.
Taking the above into consideration, and if you’re comfortable with those themes and language, I’d recommend Secret Headquarters for ages 8 and up. However, I would absolutely encourage you to watch along with your children.
Overall Thoughts
Paramount+ is dropping a pretty big film straight to its streaming service with Secret Headquarters. With its action sequences and futuristic visuals, this movie would have been a whole lot of fun on the big screen.
Overall, Secret Headquarters is a high-tech Sci-Fi superhero movie that equally brings the laughs and the heart. It’s loaded with non-stop action from start to finish. There are many teachable moments and great takeaways about honesty and trust. You will also never look at fanny packs the same way ever again! Secret Headquarters is one EPIC adventure you won’t want to miss. Owen Wilson, Walker Scobell, Jesse Williams, and Michael Pena bring their “A Game.” Grab your family for one heck of a galactic movie night. Stream Secret Headquarters exclusively on Paramount Plus August 12th.
P.S. There is one end credit scene!! Don’t miss it!!
Secret Headquarters Synopsis
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.
I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS SECRET HEADQUARTERS PARENTS GUIDE AND MOVIE REVIEW HELPFUL FOR YOUR FAMILY. WILL YOU BE WATCHING?!
Looking for more Parent Guides for your family movie nights? Check out these posts HERE!
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