Sky High

Review by Clint Morris

Superheroes, comic books, veteran action great Kurt Russell, B-movie legend Bruce Campbell, Wonder Woman Lynda Carter, '80s pop tunes, hordes of fantastical action.

Sounds like a fan-boys wet dream, hey? So just how sticky are the target market going to get with Sky High?

Well, no need to change their sheets just yet, but that's not saying it won't still leave a mark...

No doubt riding on the coat-tails of the superhero movie trend of late - even, to an extent, Disney smash The Incredibles, which centred on a family of superheroes too - Sky High is a family-friendly comical adventure that's set in a world of superheroes, super-villains and their respective children - who may, or may not also possess super powers.

Will (Michael Angarano), the teenage son of Commander Stronghold (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston), has just started attending a high school for the children of superheroes.

Unfortunately, Will's without a superpower so immediately feels out of place, but with his new friends - who are studying to become 'sidekicks' rather than 'heroes', so aren't quite as high-up the ladder as everyone else - he manages to find his way.

When an evil villain from his father's past re-appears, it also gives Will a chance to find that mislaid power.

A refreshing, effective and very entertaining stab at something new - though it's got obvious similarities with a few films, even an episode of TV's 'Friends' from a few years back, that had one of the characters pretending she attended a school for the children of spies - Sky High has a fair whack going for it, largely the casting.

From Russell (I tell ya, the guy should've played a superhero - he looks right at home in a uniform) to Bruce Campbell (always a laugh) to newcomer Steven Strait as the ominous, fireball-flinging student Warren Peace, the casting agents have really earned their cheques here.

In addition, retooled versions of old '80s pop songs plus some truly tacky but memorable costumed cats, will keep viewers - largely comic book buffs - interested.

The script does start to succumb to TV sitcom-ville in a few spots (especially with the all too banal subplot concerning Will, his best friend and the new woman on the scene), but for the most part it's a surprisingly good time.

Worth spending a semester at.

3.5 out of 5

Sky High
Australian release: Thursday the 1st of September, 2005
Cast: Michael Angarano, Kurt Russell, Kelly Preston, Danielle Panabaker, Steven Strait, Nicholas Braun, Bruce Campbell, Lynda Carter, Dave Foley.
Director: Mike Mitchell.
Website: Click here.

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