Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade
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Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade is the all-action sequel to animated bug movie Brightheart: Let Your Light Shine. It features regular battles and threat, but also themes of friendship, teamwork, and perseverance. Bugs -- led by the superhero firefly Brightheart (this time voiced by Savannah Ruth Newton) -- take on an army of robots and a tribe of moths. Battles are fought with laser blasts and spears, one of which cuts a character's face. Aurora, the robot from the first movie, self-destructs in order to save others. But she is later rebuilt. As with the first film, there is some killing amongst the insects. A bug zapper is used to kill some moths, while others fly into a candle flame. The chief moth pins a larva to the ground and says he needs "a good spanking." Words such as "butt," "poop," and "dork" are used on occasion. A character is described as "nuts" and "crazy."
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What's the Story?
In BRIGHTHEART 2: FIREFLY ACTION BRIGADE, Brightheart (voiced by Savannah Ruth Newton) and her fellow bugs must do battle with a group of robots from outer space. But if they're going to be victorious, Brightheart is going to have to persuade the leader of a group of light-hating moths to help them.
Is It Any Good?
While the original movie was about Brightheart's feelings of jealousy when the robot Aurora arrived, this sequel is strictly an all-action affair. Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade features the same diverse cast of bugs from the first movie and then sets them straight to battle for almost 90 minutes. Unfortunately with its lack of atmosphere and low stakes, it often feels like sitting through a video game without the fun of actually playing it. It's attractively animated with a clear appeal for younger viewers, which like the first movie creates a jarring tone with the violence and deaths.
Those coming to the movie without having seen the first will be brought up to speed with an awkward rap at the start of the movie. But despite the efforts to get the audience on side, the film never draws you in. So when key events take place, no real emotion is felt. With its relentless battles and lack of compelling characters, Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade does little more than look fine and pass the time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the action violence in Brightheart 2: Firefly Action Brigade. Did it feel appropriate for a movie like this? Why, or why not? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
What character strengths are on display in the movie? Did you notice themes of teamwork, courage, and perseverance depicted in the story? Why are these important traits to have?
Have you seen the first Brightheart movie? How did this compare? What other sequels to movies have you seen?
Movie Details
- In theaters: July 15, 2020
- On DVD or streaming: February 27, 2021
- Cast: Savannah Ruth Newton, Carrie Jo Crosby, Nick Hudson Murdoch
- Director: Weifeng Deng
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Topics: Bugs, Robots
- Run time: 85 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: July 1, 2022
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