Movie Review

Sky High

Now this one slipped in there unnoticed. Arriving amidst a slew of bad and/or grossly over-hyped summer wank-a-thons, Sky High has coasted into movie land with all the breeziness of its own material. It doesn't look like Disney put all that much stock in this one, as it appears they didn't even screen it for many critics. That's a shame because this movie stands up to and even surpasses much of the mindless fare that's clogging theaters at the moment. It's made for kids with no pretenses; many will write it off as stupid and childish, but I saw it for exactly what it was and had a pretty good time as a result.

In this movie's world, superheroes are well known and established. The most famous of all do-gooders are the husband/wife team of The Commander & Jetstream (Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston). They fly around and battle with super-threats while being lauded by the TV news. They have an only son, Will (Michael Angarano), who is about to start his freshman year at Sky High. This is a high school located in the clouds exclusively for superheroes-to-be, and of course both Will's parents went there. Will has not developed his superpowers yet, unknown to his folks. This presents a problem during first-day placement when he is relegated to the lowly position of Sidekick (rather than Hero). This is sure to upset daddy Commander, but labels be damned: Will is going to hang with the losers and give Sky High a shot anyway. But when pubescent pressures and rowdy superpowers join the fray, Will discovers that going to this school might be a lot to deal with.

Not everyone is going to agree with my assessment of this movie. I can't explain why, but it really made me want to like it. Anyone who is not into the superhero genre will not care for it at all, and some who do like superheroes will find it skewed towards too young of an audience. I can respect all viewpoints on this one, as the film certainly is not perfect. While there is enough cheese to go around, there is also a heightened fun factor, especially compared to those comic-book films that are overly serious (usually a bad sign). The script is not crackling, but it fits in with the breezy tone of the finished product. I can enjoy this kind of Disney Channel fare if it's done right, which is actually a surprise for me. I wouldn't have thought to go see it until I read a good early review on Reelviews.net.

The powers and battles aren't astounding, but they're zippy and kinetic. Mostly the stuff is all rip-offs of other famous heroes, but I strangely managed to forgive that. The design and situational elements have an imaginative quality to them; the pill of believing in Sky High's world is pretty easy to swallow. The youthful actors all do a good job, but I have to make a special note of Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She plays Gwen, the prettiest girl in school. She looks the part, possessing extreme cuteness and inhumanly large eyes; any guy, young or old, would tumble for her.

Winstead is another potential breakout female star; I was reminded of ladies like Lynn Chen and Michelle Krusiec of "Saving Face" (B), and the writers put her to good use in the story. Now, as per writing, it's not great dialogue. There are some jokes, but nothing forceful or memorable. And it?s disappointing that Kevin Heffernan, Bruce Campbell, Kevin McDonald, and Dave Foley bring nothing to the table; utilizing their collective comic skills would have been a good idea. But I can look past that because the movie is not about showcasing their powers, but the kids'.

The similarity to Harry Potter is unmistakable; Sky High is basically Hogwarts for the cape-and-mask set. But I don't like Potter that much so it really doesn't bother me. I hope that this movie can continue into sequels, although it obviously will never be a shadow as successful as Potter and other uber-franchises. But that doesn't matter; this movie arrives with no pressure and no expectations. If you like light and bubbly movies, put yourself to the test and check this one out.

Scott's Grade: B-

A	15.1%
B	59.2%
C	24.5%
D	1.2%
F	0.0%