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The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D Our rating: Your rating: 1 2 3 4 Your Comments: see all MPAA rating: PG (for mild action and some rude humor) Theater release: June 10, 2005 by Dimension Films Directed by: Robert Rodriguez Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes Cast: Taylor Lautner (Sharkboy), Taylor Dooley (Lavagirl), Cayden Boyd (Max), David Arquette (Dad), Kristin Davis (Mom), George Lopez (Mr. Electricidad/Mr. Electric) Related: Talk About It/Family Corner

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The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D could be described as The Matrix meets Spider-Man for eight-year-olds. Like Neo in The Matrix, Max—this movie's protagonist—is caught in a parallel world where his own perceptions dictate what he sees. Sharkboy and Lavagirl, the heroes of Max's imagination, derive from the superhero comic books, where characters like Spidey and the Green Lantern have specific powers and weaknesses (unlike the nearly omnipotent Superman).

Robert Rodriguez, the creator of the upbeat and immensely popular Spy Kids trilogy, is an astonishing creative force. He draws from popular culture and his own imagination for his films, but he can't take all the credit for Sharkboy and Lavagirl. The writing and screenplay credits go instead to Racer Max Rodriguez—Robert's seven-year-old son, who got the idea for Sharkboy while playing with his dad in the swimming pool. "I'm Shark Boy!" Racer Max told his dad, insisting on a movie about a character of the same name.

Taylor Lautney as Sharkboy

Rodriguez admits that it is difficult to slip into the mind of an eight-year-old to make a movie that will ring true to a young audience. So he decided to collaborate with his son, suggesting that Racer Max come up with a female counterpart to Sharkboy. The result was Lavagirl, who gives off sparks, heat and flames, especially when she gets riled up.

The Max of the film—named after the younger Rodriguez—is a daydreamer who keeps an illustrated "dream journal" recording the exploits of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. The journal also portrays the imagined versions of his bully-nemesis Linus and his overbearing teacher, Mr. Electricidad, played with scenery-chewing glee by comedian George Lopez. So real to him are Max's dreams, that he presents them in an oral report as reality, earning the derision of his classmates and the scorn of Mr. Electricidad.

Then, on a stormy day when a tornado looms on the horizon, Sharkboy and Lavagirl burst into the classroom and spirit Max away to the planet Drool, where only he can rescue the planet from the evil machinations of Mr. Electric, a half-human, half electro-robotic version of his teacher. The bully Linus also appears, this time as the nefarious villain, Minus.

Wonder why they call her 'Lavagirl'?

The imagined world of Planet Drool is playfully and charmingly executed. We are taken on a run across an ice bridge and deposited in the Land of Milk and Cookies, where the young actors float on chocolate chip juggernauts and are harried by whipped cream storms and chocolate swamps. A bone-rattling rollercoaster and other delights make Planet Drool a child's nirvana except for one catch: The evil Mr. Electric, just like his earthly counterpart, Mr. Electricidad, is obsessively focused on crushing dreams. His idealized world is a black hole of despair, and he is aided by Minus, a worse bully on Planet Drool than Linus is back on earth. If they have their way, Planet Drool, like Max's school, will be devoid of imagination and dreams. It's fascism, child-style.

Lopez is a treat—evil in a truly comic way that will thrill but probably not frighten little children. As Sharkboy, Taylor Lautner brings a great deal of physical presence and energy, drawing from his experience in competitive martial arts and hip-hop dancing. Taylor Dooley's Lavagirl is a mix of charm and girl power, and Cayden Boyd, as Max, is an engaging daydreamer, but they come across as great actors in the high school play. That will work fine for Sharkboy and Lavagirl's younger audience, but it detracts a bit for older viewers. David Arquette and Kristin Davis are believable as the quarreling parents who push Max into his dream world, but there is little heat.

Max (Cayden Boyd) joins the heroes on their adventure

Rodriguez captures the way our real-life aspirations and fears are played out in our dreams, and we can't help but be reminded of weird dreams we've had when reality has morphed into unreality. And who among us can deny childhood fantasies wherein we saved the world? Many adult action films center on One Man who can save us from nuclear destruction, government plots, and terrorist attacks. Even as grownups, we're still having that fantasy, identifying with super-versions of ourselves.

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