Released 2005
Stars Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Steven Strait, Dee Jay Daniels, Nicholas Braun, Kelly Vitz, Bruce Campbell, Lynda Carter
Directed by Mike Mitchell

Initially, Sky High looked like it was going to be one of the summer's throw-away movies - a family comedy with suspicious similarities to last year's The Incredibles. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that not only is Sky High too good to be considered a mere "throw away," but, from a pure entertainment perspective, it is arguably the most enjoyable motion picture of the season. Sky High is funny, smart, energetic, subversive, and has a few substantive things to say. There's nothing on director Mike Mitchell's dismal resume to indicate he was capable of crafting such a welcome diversion.

There is a little of The Incredibles to be found in Sky High, but that's not where the cinematic connections end. Other allusions include X-Men, Harry Potter, Spy Kids, and Can't Buy Me Love. The script, credited to a trio of writers (Paul Hernandez, Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle) succeeds at the tricky task of lampooning a genre while also becoming an entry. The writing is sly and knowledgeable, and chock full of "in" jokes and witticisms in categories ranging from character names ("Warren Peace" - say that aloud) to set design (Bat-poles) to throw-away lines (Lynda Carter saying, "Who do you think I am? Wonder Woman?") No, this isn't Tolstoy, and despite the "Warren Peace," it's not intended to be. But it is perfect for the mood of the film, which is one third comedy, one third action, and one third drama. And, with no sex or profanity, and only a little in the way of cartoon violence, it's appropriate for the whole family.

The central character is Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the 14-year old son of the world's two most revered superheroes, Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). In costume, they repeatedly save the day, while hiding behind their secret identities as mild-mannered real estate agents. For Will, it's time to start high school at his parents' alma mater, Sky High - the learning center for people with superpowers. Joining Will is his best friend, Layla (Danielle Panabaker), who has an affinity for plant life. But there's problem - Will hasn't shown any signs of superpowers, and this gets him placed in the "sidekick" class. While there, he has little chance of attracting the girl of his dreams, Gwen Grayson (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a senior with an affinity for technology. And it doesn't help that one of his teachers, Coach Boomer (Bruce Campbell), doesn't like him. How can Will survive without powers living in his parents' shadow, and how can he find a way to tell his mother and father the truth about his non-existent abilities? And what happens when Commander and Jetstream's arch-enemy hatches a diabolical plan?

Summary by James Berardinelli

What a surprise this movie was! I thought it looked like a piece of junk, but my wife convinced me to come watch it. I'm glad I did, because it's a lot of fun. I love superhero movies anyway, and honestly this is a great one. It's a spoof, but it's handled perfectly. I laughed out loud the entire time. My favorite aspect was the division between heroes and sidekicks, which reminded me of the great animated series, "The Tick". The whole concept of the sidekicks doing all of the dirty work but only being ignored, or even scorned, by the public is funny, and this movie hits all the right notes. If you like superheroes at all, you should really enjoy this movie. It's perfect entertainment for the entire family. Way to go, Disney! --Bill Alward, January 1, 2006