An introverted barista becomes a vibrant and outgoing drag queen when he finds an alien wig that transforms him into a super-shero alter ego who must fight against the evil threatening to take over the town.
Growing up, I loved cartoons. Hell, I still do. Animated films were a huge part of my upbringing, and the best ones of the bunch were always the ones that could be watched again and again, even as I grew up. Well, I may not be a kid anymore, but I want to watch Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-Shero until I grow up. Whenever that may be. It’s adorable, giggle inducing, and beautiful to look at, all while having a fabulous message of inclusivity and being a fun ride for the entire family. It has everything you could want from an animated film of any kind, and the fact that the film is LGBTQ powered only increases my adoration for it. With innuendo jokes that’ll make adults and kids at heart laugh, while also giving children an incredibly relatable and touching lead character, Maxxie LaWow is more than just enjoyable; it’s exactly the kind of film we need right now. Not only did it touch me through the story itself, but the subject matter moved me to tears. In a time when hate is so common, this movie shows us just how beautiful love can be when we stop with the prejudices and discrimination.
Created and directed by Anthony Hand, with a screenplay by Michael Phillis, Maxxie LaWow is fun from beginning to end. Enjoyable characters, a tried and true yet unique and interesting plot, and an incredibly progressive and inclusive story all culminate into one amazing film that I couldn’t stop watching. It had me smiling from the very first frame, and with an endearingly restrained animation style compared to the big blockbusters from Pixar, it feels much more intimate and well thought out from script to screen. With cutesy characters and fantastic dialogue, everyone will find something to like here unless you have no soul.
Big props go to the voice cast, with Grant Hodges giving a stellar performance as the lead character despite not having much previous experience. You can feel his love for the character through his voice and he manages to embody the duality of both Simon and Maxxie. But I’ve gotta fangirl about Erika Ishii, who has been one of my favorite voice actors in video games for close to a decade. Yes, I’m a nerd. They give no less than perfection here as Jae, and their presence here felt warm and inviting as both the character’s best friend, as well as someone we would all love to know. Terren Wooten Clarke is superbly delectable as the “big bad” Dyna Bolical, Laraine Newman is comedic as ever, and the several real drag queens who provide voice work here, specifically Heidi N Closet and Jinkx Monsoon, are all chef’s kiss levels of adorable.
The real winner here, though, has to be the animation team. Taking a style that feels like a blast from the past (I’m a millennial, don’t judge me) and mixing in the most beautiful color palette I’ve seen in animation since The Powerpuff Girls, Maxxie LaWow is a treat for the eyes. And the ears, too, because the original musical numbers on display here are toe tapping good times, thanks largely in part to Angie Fisher. Everything feels put together with love and inclusivity as the goal, and it very much shows here.
If you’re looking for a truly progressive tale with a lot to say and no hidden agendas aside from expressing oneself as they are, then Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-Shero will be just the thing you need, even if you’re not the biggest fan of animated work. It’s an all around good time, and this is the kind of beautiful work we get when we have unrepresented voices take center stage.