Sky High [PG]

Meet Will Stronghold the son of the world’s most beloved superheroes, The Commander and Jetstream. It’s Will’s first year at superhero high school commonly known as Sky High, and his parents are very excited about it. Will’s not though. He hasn’t told them yet, but he doesn’t seem to have any powers. When Will gets labelled as a sidekick rather than a hero, his parents aren’t too pleased, but when his powers finally do come in, Will discovers where his true strengths lie: in loyalty and teamwork regardless of labels. 

I was fifteen when this movie first came out and I remember loving it then! Sky High is a great flick for all ages because it’s got a great moral and funny story as well as these wonderful characters and just a general feel-good vibe. There’s nothing inherently epic about it, but I love this movie! 

Meet Will Stronghold the son of the world’s most beloved superheroes, The Commander and Jetstream. It’s Will’s first year at superhero high school commonly known as Sky High, and his parents are very excited about it. Will’s not though. He hasn’t told them yet, but he doesn’t seem to have any powers. When Will gets labelled as a sidekick rather than a hero, his parents aren’t too pleased, but when his powers finally do come in, Will discovers where his true strengths lie: in loyalty and teamwork regardless of labels. 

Admittedly the writing can get a little silly and feel a little rushed and taking the easy way out of a dilemma. Case in point, the Detention Room that “neutralises all powers” with no further explanation. At the end of the day, it’s a simple Disney movie that’s trying to play to an adolescent audience. But even though it plays to a stereotype, it still succeeds in gaining a wide variety of audience (I’m past adolescence and I still love it!). Whilst sometimes being very vague about certain things, the script is actually rather good: filled with smart-arse teenage wit and a great sense of naturalness. You’ve got to keep in mind this is set in a place where kids with powers are accepted as the norm, and this normality really shines through. 

The performances from the young stars are great, but it’s the star-studded cast that brings about the real appeal of this movie. Starring Michael Angarano, Danielle Panabaker, Kevin Heffernan, Dee Jay Daniels, Kelly Vitz, Nicholas Braun, Jake Sandvig, Will Harris, Lynda Carter, Bruce Campbell, Steven Strait, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kelly Preston, Kurt Russell and Cloris Leachman, Sky High is a great little family movie packed with cool superpowers, teenage angst, pretty nifty special effects, drama, and comedy. It’s simple, to be sure, but it sill holds some enjoyment. I personally really like this movie: it’s fresh and fun.