Sky High (DVD, 2005, Widescreen)

Most teenagers cringe at the thought of meeting their parents' high expectations--good grades, well-behaved friends, and a plan for the future--and none more so than Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano), the son of legendary superheroes Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston). This clever Disney comedy follows Will from his first day as star student at Sky High, an elite school for the children of superheroes. The only problem is that Will apparently has no special powers, and he can't let his parents find out! Lacking the abilities needed to attend hero classes, Will falls in with the misfit sidekicks, whose only powers include turning into a guinea pig, glowing, and melting. However, when an old villain with a new power reappears on the scene, the pressure is on Will and his sidekicks to save his parents, his school, and the earth itself. Perhaps as a tribute to the classic era of teen films, SKY HIGH features a soundtrack bursting with 1980s hits covered by contemporary artists, including Flashlight Brown, Bowling for Soup, and Vitamin C. The film also features performances that will please adult viewers, including a cameo as the school principal by former Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, comedian Dave Foley as a washed up sidekick, and EVIL DEAD star Bruce Campbell as Coach Boomer. Truly fun for all ages, the charming teen stars, fast pace, and universal story make SKY HIGH a clear family classic on par with SIXTEEN CANDLES, SPY KIDS, and NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION.

I will admit that I was leary of seeing "Sky High". When I first saw the trailers, I did have high hopes, but I quickly tried to suppress them. I did not want to be disappointed by Disney as I had been often since 1998.

I entered the theatre with low expectations and came out feeling I could fly.

The film follows a typical family comedy/comflict plot with a superhero twist. Will Stronghold (played by Michael Angarano) is about to attend his father's alma mater, Sky High, the school for the children of superheroes. His dad (Played wonderfully by Kurt Russell) expects big things from him and hopes that his son will be as successful and popular as he was when he attended Sky High. Unfortunately, Will hasn't developed his super power yet and much to his dad's dismay, he flunks out of Power Placement and is assigned to the Hero Support classes. It is here that Will bonds with the other sidekick students and shows that even though he is the son of the world's greatest superhero, he doesn't let it go to his head. Redemption comes later as Will's power manifests and he is switched to the Hero classes, but is pressured to leave his sidekick friends behind. Add a climax where the school must be saved from a villanous threat and acceptance by Will and his sidekick friends and you have one fun piece of film.

There are quite a few performances in this film I really enjoyed. I am a big fan of Kurt Russel and his protrayl of the world's greatest superhero who wants his son to follow in his footsteps is great. Adding the right about of camp and fun to the role, Kurt really helps move the film along. Supporting performances by Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald had me in stitches. Dave Foley plays Mr. Boy and teachs the sidekicks or as he likes to call it "Hero Support". His meek attempts to show his students that Hero Support is just as important as being a hero gets me giggling just thinking about it. Kevin McDonald does a turn here as Mr. Medulla, the school's mad science instructor. While he doesn't have many lines, it is his facial expressions and body language that maximize his performance given his limitted screen time.

In the end, "Sky High" is good, clean family fun with the right about of action that is suitable for all ages. I still watch it on a regular basis with my family.

All right, this is another Superhero movie... seems to be a lot of them lately as everyone wants to get into the craze!

However this one is watchable for family viewing, as not all of them are!

This film has an ordinary teenager finding out he's not so ordinary after all!

The boy finds out that his high school, Sky High, is a special learning facility for the children of superheroes!

He finds out that his father is actually super-hero Captain Stronghold (Kurt Russell), and his mom is superheroine Josie Jetstream (Kelly Preston)!

The usual teenage angst comes into the movie, with fitting in or not fitting in, and finding out that the superheroes' kids have skills classes and are segregated by their skill levels.... somewhat like in European high schools!

Sky High also features Lynda Carter who will always be remembered as Wonder Woman!!

A SUPER ADVENTURE OF HEROIC PROPORTIONS, THIS CROWD-PLEASING HIT FROM WALT DISNEY PICTURES STARS HOLLYWOOD FAVORITES (KURT RUSSELL) AND (KELLY PRESTON)! THE SON OF LEGENDARY HEROES COMMANDER (RUSSELL) AND JETSTREAM (PRESTON), YOUNG WILL STRONGEHOLD CARRIES HUGE EXPECTATIONS AS HE ENTERS A HIGH-TECH SCHOOL KNOWN FOR MOLDING THE HEROES OF TOMORROW. WITH NO APPARENT SUPERPOWERS OF HIS OWN, HOWEVER, WILL SEEMS DESTINED TO GROW UP A MERE SIDEKICK. BUT AS HE DISCOVERS HIS TRUE STRENGTHS, HE'LL ALSO LEARN THAT IT TAKES LOYALTY AND TEAMWORK TO TRULY BECOME A HERO.

Fun for children - entertaining, nothing offensive. The movie doesn't have anything interesting or new to say about high school or heroes.

The film lacks substance. It will be mildly entertaining and fun for the kids, but not at all thought-provoking or captivating.

I rate this an average "family" movie.