Reviewer's Bias*
Loves: Animation, superheroes
Likes: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Teen Titans Go!
Dislikes: DC Comics in general, overtly moralistic cartoons, most "girl" cartoons
Hates: Harley Quinn overexposure

The Movie
With the notable exception of Patty Jenkins' recent Wonder Woman, DC's film output has long lagged behind its TV series, whether it's the small-screen live-action series that populate the CW or the many excellent animated adaptations, including the wonderfully silly Teen Titans Go!. Part of that success is a very clear view of each series' audience, focusing on adventure, laughs or drama. So when the powers that be took aim at a relatively unserved young female audience with DC Super Heroes Girls, it looked like a smart business move, locking in a generation of female fans to the world of Supergirl, Batgirl and Wonder Woman.

At first, the concept, which brings together teen versions of DC's distaff heroes (including characters like Bumblebee, Katana and Big Barda) and some popular bad girls (such as Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy) as students at Super Hero High School, was limited to some internet shorts, a toy line and printed appearances, but with a new TV series in development, original movies have been released, including DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games, which gives the super students more opportunities to show their personalities and take part in fully fleshed-out storylines. The results are a fun mix of comedy and action made to appeal to not only the young girls the title suggests, but anyone who likes their superheroes a bit less serious.

In Intergalactic Games, the students of SHHS are pitted against a pair of opposing schools in a big athletic competition that's hosted by our heroes. While that's going on, a number of subplots are simmering, including the conflict between the naive Starfire and her mean sister Blackfire, Wonder Woman's hope of getting into a prestigious ambassador program and a secret plot to overrun the school with tiny, adorable creatures made of kryptonite. Though much of the early going of this relatively brief 76-minute film is silly fun (like a big inter-squad food fight), as the story winds its way to a conclusion, it gets markedly more serious and action-heavy (and could be a bit scary for younger viewers.)

Though the show does attempt to wedge in some morals, touching on the importance of teamwork, it's mainly a toned-down superhero adventure, blended with school-aged interpersonal relationships and a good deal of funny. Three characters from the often hysterical Teen Titans Go! team are on hand, voiced by the same actors, and their personalities remain just as entertaining (if less heightened comedically), while the core heroes play it a bit more straight-laced (getting more of the cute gags). For older fans of DC's comics, who might not be watching by choice, the utilization of DCs deep roster to fill out the cast provides plenty of easter eggs, like the presence of Gorilla Grodd as a teacher and (who I believe is) Abin Sur, as the school's frustrated groundskeeper. The presence of Harley Quinn (who, with Poison Ivy, is a questionable inclusion on the side of good) feels less organic, and seems like both an attempt to capitalize on her popularity and an injection of pure comedic chaos into the heroes' lives (not unlike MLP:FIM's Pinkie Pie.)

The Quality
The anamorphic widescreen transfer on this film is bright and colorful, and shows off the film's smooth animation well, with the bold characters standing out well against more subtle backgrounds. Everything is clean and free of any notable problems, even when the action picks up later on in the film. A very attractive presentation that fits the content well.

After growing used to getting simple stereo tracks for most kids shows, the Dolby Digital 5.1 track here was a pleasant surprise. The surrounds come into play often in battle, but particularly when it comes to boosting the music, including the excellent theme song, "Get Your Cape On." Voices are consistently clear and easily understood and there's some effective low-end during action scenes, making for an engaging soundstage.

The Extras
"That's My Girl" (3:32) is a music-video edit of DC Super Hero Girls action footage set to the Destiny's Child-esque "That's My Girl" by the pop group Fifth Harmony. It's a catchy, energetic song that fits the tone and themes of the series well, and this presentation should appeal to fans of the film.

Also included are a set of DCSHG shorts, starting with "New Beginnings" (4:30), in which Wonder Woman attempts to convince Supergirl to attend Super Hero High School, via a video call held while Wonder Woman battles a villain. There's something rather delightful about the young Wonder Woman being unwilling to put down her phone despite being in the middle of a huge fight.

A very brief profile of Supergirl, complete with testimonials from her fellow students, can be found in "Hero of the Month: Supergirl" (1:34), while "Batgirl vs. Supergirl" (2:36) offers a much lighter take on the grim-dark BvS, as the two heroes battle over a piece of cake (which gives us the most enjoyable line of any on this entire disc.)

A trio of the shorts feel too short, rushing through their simple plots. In "Quinn-tessential Harley" (2:34) we get a meta comment on the popularity of the character, as Harley struggles with her fame and fandom. Then "Doubles Trouble" (2:55) delivers, as you may expect, a tennis short, pitting Supergirl and Katana against Flash and Cyborg, with the use of Supergirl's powers as the central gag. Finally, "Franken-Ivy" (2:44) puts the spotlight on Poison Ivy, as her aggressive pet/plant grows out of control, forcing the Girls to take him on.

Far more involved is "Dude, Where's My Invisible Jet?" (3:52), which includes several of the non-core heroes, as they attempt to find Wonder Woman's misplaced invisible jet. It's an amusing idea, though the payoff doesn't deliver on the premise, with two extended bits that feel repetitive.

Also included are several trailers, including one for that terrible-looking Tom and Jerry/Willy Wonka movie.

Follow him on Twitter

*The Reviewer's Bias section is an attempt to help readers use the review to its best effect. By knowing where the reviewer's biases lie on the film's subject matter, one can read the review with the right mindset.