Madame X is hilarious fun, shamelessly hitting or subverting all sorts action-adventure, martial arts, superhero, and Magical Girl clichés in a delightful campy way. Training montages, a hi-tech (though gorgeously decorated) control centre, and an out-of-this-world transformation sequence are just some of the highlights.
Though it does contain a bit of violence it was very much toned down (don’t think I didn’t notice those clubs were foam!), and even the dramatic scenes were mostly played for laughs. Special mention goes to Auntie’s dying speech after OMEG attacked the dance school. In a serious movie the dying mentor would give some last-minute advice or useful information to the plucky new hero. Here, though? Auntie just gives her assistant some tips on letting the Madame X costume out a bit.
Not to say there’s no action; in spite of its silly elements—like ending it by throwing their designer handbag in the water—the fight with Mr. Storm’s three wives was mostly played seriously. Madame X was injured, scared, and retreated to regroup a couple of times. Likewise, I thought the final fight with the Big Bad was nicely done, and the final reveal that he was Adam’s childhood friend turned into a bitter fanatic took me by surprise. I know it shouldn’t have, because those flashbacks were there for a reason, but there you go.
The movie ends with Madame X continuing her vigilante work, saving another queer from getting gay-bashed in the lonely streets of Jakarta. Hey, he’s no Batman, but I’ll take it.