Spoiler Alert
Every once in a while, when I see a commercial for Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger or one of its spinoffs on YTV, I wonder if the former side-kick (Jace Norman) will ever become Nightwing from DC Comics? And I’m surprised Henry Danger The Movie delivered. I can easily picture him as that type of jaded individual after the events from the original series. Although this continuation has moments which has to recognise why this studio loves silly, the trip through the light fantastic was very entertaining!
That’s because Frankini (Frankie Grande) steals the show. He manages and performs at the nightclub where the best action takes place. Although this individual appeared in only three episodes of the series, for the producers to decide on which recurring character to bring back must have been tough. And when he got transformed into a vampire, I’m sure he can give Paul Reuben a run for the money. Unfortunately, the alt version of this dancer does not have a hilarious death scene like in the Buffy movie, but he looks absolutely fabulous!
Had he been the focus in this made for television movie, I’d be thrilled. Unfortunately, such is not the case, and what this tale is about is more about Henry Hart (Norman) wanting to part ways. Jasper Dunlop (Sean Ryan Fox), on the other hand, wants to keep on going. I suspect the reason the former is less enthusiastic is that he wants to leave the game rather than be a commercial product.
There’s a good story to follow, but when it gets interrupted when Missy Martin (Glee Dango) teleports him to her room. She’s a huge fan who thought Kid Danger died. But when the data (fan-fiction) she put into the reality altering device she has is trying to change reality due to this misinformation, that’s when the multiverse is glitching out! Pretty soon, they’re visiting these worlds she created and as for how much of her own is still surviving, that depends on who is what they should be.
And along the way, the different iterations of Jasper, Schwoz and Piper show to this superhero he needs his friends. In some ways, this tale mirrors all those other what if I don’t exist stories out there. The result is always about the hero learning he’s needed after all, and in this case, the tale is like Megamind the Movie. I suspect part of his desire to not keep it up is because Charlotte (Riele Downs) is off to college. This puts him in a headspace where continuing on without her is not worthwhile.
Despite having a solid, mature story which should have been explored, what’s presented is one half nostalgia bait and another character development. I like how everyone has grown out of the roles they had to play in the series. For example, Piper (Ella Anderson) is not that brat she was once–it’s about time!
Also, by filming this movie around Vancouver and Richmond, BC, in outdoor sets that I recognized, this product felt more lived in. I don’t watch too many sitcoms due to the fact all the action plays out within one main soundstage, but when they can exist in the world at large, I’ll pay attention. And when this continuation has a bigger budget to continue the adventure like the Batman movies, I’m honestly curious about what’s next.
Also, by filming this movie around Vancouver and around Richmond, BC and dispensing with the sound stage sets most TV sitcoms use, this work feels much more realistic. While fans have yet to see the next iteration of this hero’s own headquarters, the next film has to reveal that if the epilogue is any sign.
3½ Stars out of 5
Henry Danger The Movie Trailer
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