The Hyperions – 2022 – Very different superheroes

The Hyperions is more or less what it claims to be, a funny superhero story where the actual heroes are very different. There is also a more serious side of the story but more on that later. The Superheroes in The Hyperions are not really born with any powers. It’s more like they were chosen by this brilliant scientist – Professor Ruckus Mandulbaum (Cary Elwes). He has invented a device that can give humans various powers and he then organized so that three youths or children got the chance to become superheroes. In this process, he also more or less adopt the kids and call them his children. They, in turn, are kinda supposed to call him dad. To the public, everything looks really good but all the drama inside this little family is nothing that is shown outside the organization.

Kids will be kids

I guess it’s the same with these kids as with all other kids. Some rebel against their parents and don’t want to be controlled. They want to have their free will and make their own decisions. You could also argue that maybe young kids should become superheroes before they have got a taste of life and knows what it’s about. if you take children from a very young age and suggest that they should do this or that, their free will and freedom are kinda robbed from them. You don’t even have to force them, just manipulate them into thinking they’re doing it voluntarily.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. The film starts off with a couple of these superheroes entering a museum with the intent to rob it. Ther are after the very same devices I mentioned above, the ones that Professor Ruckus Mandulbaum invented. It’s like small pins that go into a device on the hero’s arms. But in this case, I guess they’re not heroes anymore – or? At this point, I didn’t really care. The characters inside the museum, that become their hostages are really out of this world. I really love when you get such screwball characters together. It becomes hilarious and the story really becomes secondary.

Professor Ruckus Mandulbaum

At the same time, we get to follow Professor Ruckus Mandulbaum as he prepares for and participates in interviews and public events. It seems like the general public hold’s him as the real hero despite he “only” invented the means for the kids to become heroes. I love the way several of these segments are filmed as they were shot in the 70s. And that also helps the illusion of things happening in different time periods. The whole universe that is built inside the premise of the plot is really something special.

The people more or less seem brainwashed by this professor and at times it seems like only the robbers see through his true agenda. To appear in a certain light. Does he want to be the hero himself? Does he even care about “his” children? Is the team worth more to him than the individuals in it? Why did he replace the kids after a while with other children?

The questions

These are all questions that pop up in my mind at various points of the movie. There are obviously grudges kept between some of the heroes and the professor. It seems that they, individually, follow their own truth, their own convictions. There is a very good argument for robbing the museum and there is also a very good argument from the professor to obstruct their attempt. But in the end, it’s more or less about one thing. Children will grow up and rebel against their parents. They need to take responsibility for their own lives and most will still love their parents unconditionally in the end!

This is a sweet movie with a good message but I think the way to get there is more entertaining. The characters are the main thing in this and the way it’s actually executed cinematography-wise.