Having watched this recently this year after almost a decade. Now that i think about it, the whole "girl's arc is realizing her potential aka she's special" trope is usually trash but Lavagirls realization tied damn near directly into Max's own sense of self & lack thereof.
So unlike Sharkboy who possibly represented the kid Max wanted to be, unapologetic, oozing with confidence, badass, overqualified.
Lavagirl was the avatar of his own self-esteem, an inner powerhouse making a comeback.
Over the course of the movie, him affirming his own confidence through the adventure & remembering what Lavagirl actually is to Planet Drool- really gives a more meaningful context to the whole thing beyond just "her realizing" she's special.
Which is where A LOT of movies with this "empowerment" fetish, lose the plot.
And because she laid down her life to save her bff, so not only it made sense in narrative but it was earned. This campy af, low budget movie had no business having that kind of heart.
The movie is hammy, it's writing is garbage but it had well intentioned subtext to learn from thats still relevant in adulthood, and in some ways, it has more relevant messages for one as an adult.
"Lavagirl: Max! I am light. Thank you.
Max: You were always that. It had nothing to do with me.
Lavagirl: But now I know. So thank you."
Homie Max even after becoming a dream god, still so humble. Love that exchange.
So unlike Sharkboy who possibly represented the kid Max wanted to be, unapologetic, oozing with confidence, badass, overqualified.
Lavagirl was the avatar of his own self-esteem, an inner powerhouse making a comeback.
Over the course of the movie, him affirming his own confidence through the adventure & remembering what Lavagirl actually is to Planet Drool- really gives a more meaningful context to the whole thing beyond just "her realizing" she's special.
Which is where A LOT of movies with this "empowerment" fetish, lose the plot.
And because she laid down her life to save her bff, so not only it made sense in narrative but it was earned. This campy af, low budget movie had no business having that kind of heart.
The movie is hammy, it's writing is garbage but it had well intentioned subtext to learn from thats still relevant in adulthood, and in some ways, it has more relevant messages for one as an adult.
"Lavagirl: Max! I am light. Thank you.
Max: You were always that. It had nothing to do with me.
Lavagirl: But now I know. So thank you."
Homie Max even after becoming a dream god, still so humble. Love that exchange.
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